noun

agency

AY-juhn-see

noun

A business or organization that provides a particular service, often acting on behalf of others.

"She booked the holiday through a travel agency."

"The advertising agency pitched three new campaign ideas."

A person's capacity to act independently and make their own choices.

"The novel is about a woman reclaiming her agency."

"Young children have limited agency over their daily routines."

A department or branch of government responsible for a specific area.

"The environmental agency issued a new set of guidelines."

"He works for a federal agency in Washington."

How to Use Agency

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a business that acts on your behalf, or the personal power to act and choose for yourself.

Common pairings

travel agency government agency sense of agency act with agency

agencies plural

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She booked the holiday through a travel _____.

From Medieval Latin agentia, built from Latin agens ("acting"), the present participle of agere ("to act, do") — the same root as "agent."

action activity agent agentship cause device force function means operation power

nonagency

rape money create person action travel force activity

urgency potency decency regency currency tendency clemency leniency frequency emergency residency indecency

action activity agent agentship cause device force function means operation power nonagency