An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses.
[business]
We had to hire maids through an agency.
...a successful advertising agency.
Synonyms: business, company, office, firm More Synonyms of agency
2. See also advertising agency, employment agency, press agency, travel agency
3. countable noun
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration.
...the government agency which monitors health and safety at work in Britain.
He is retiring as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
More Synonyms of agency
agency in British English
(ˈeɪdʒənsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cies
1.
a business or other organization providing a specific service
an employment agency
2.
the place where an agent conducts business
3.
the business, duties, or functions of an agent
4.
action, power, or operation
the agency of fate
5.
intercession or mediation
6.
one of the administrative organizations of a government
Word origin
C17: from Medieval Latin agentia, from Latin agere to do
agency in American English
(ˈeɪdʒənsi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈagencies
1.
active force; action; power
2.
that by which something is done; means; instrumentality
3.
the business of any person, firm, etc. empowered to act for another
4.
the business office or district of such a person, firm, etc.
5.
an administrative division of government with specific functions
6.
an organization that offers a particular kind of assistance
a social agency
Word origin
ML agentia < prp. of L agere, act1
agency in Insurance
(eɪdʒənsi)
Word forms: (plural) agencies
noun
(Insurance: Sales and distribution)
An agency is a group of people who sell and manage insurance contracts.
As an independent insurance agency, we help you find insurance solutions tailored to your individual needs.
We are an independent agency with many insurance carriers offering quality auto insurance coverage.
An agency is a group of people who sell and manage insurance contracts.
COBUILD Collocations
agency
agency responsible for
federal agency
government agency
marketing agency
ratings agency
spy agency
Examples of 'agency' in a sentence
agency
Germany has passed laws this year to extend the power of intelligence agencies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is a government agency that provides protective security advice to businesses and organisations across the national infrastructure.
Computing (2010)
The tool provides information to the public on requests for user data or content removal that it receives from government agencies around the world.
Computing (2010)
It means the agency thinks the government is less secure than it was before the country voted for Brexit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Government agencies responsible for bringing fraudsters and financial criminals to book have suffered serial criticism when long-running and expensive investigations result in no convictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was claimed that 20 come with backing from government agencies, raising the prospect that they may actually be built.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He was hired through an agency which should have carried out background checks.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Uncertainty set in last year when two credit ratings agencies downgraded the business.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is accomplished through the distribution of funds to local agency service providers.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
The venue has also worked with agencies in the area to provide local people with new skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But one woman has won compensation for injuries sustained while employed by a federal government agency.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The actual amount of the award is determined by the agency head.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
We can give agencies draconian new powers to bug phones and computers.
The Sun (2013)
This is the future of the agency business.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Many services that agencies provide are now regarded as commodities.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Speak to recruitment agencies in each area and see what career opportunities are available.
The Sun (2014)
American government agencies are studying social media postings in which news of the attack surfaced.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Ministers are likely to favour new powers for the agency.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Her aim was to make it the most exclusive agency in the business.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
His overall intention is to improve the service the agency and its staff provide to the public.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Access for humanitarian agencies to all areas is essential.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So far the aid agency has operations only in rebel-held areas in the east of the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Four hired agency staff get only 35 a day allowance for food and board.
The Sun (2013)
The union claimed that the move could be illegal because firms are not allowed to hire agency workers to replace staff taking industrial action.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The head of the agency said it was good, but that they had come up with something better.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
In 1976 he went freelance but continued his contacts and clandestine operations with the agency until he was driven out into the cold and arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Intelligence agencies have noted intensified contingency planning in Saudi Arabia.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
While the difficulty of this work makes specialization in agency organization most desirable, in this complex and uncertain world we learn more by being uncertain.
Langan, Mary (ed) Taking Child Abuse Seriously: Contemporary issues in child protection theory andpractice (1990)
Its in-house team contacts prospective clients on the creative agencies' behalf.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some organizations employ outside agencies to recruit staff for them, especially for managerial Jobs.
Chambers, Ian Business Studies Basic Facts (1990)
In other languages
agency
British English: agency /ˈeɪdʒənsɪ/ NOUN
An agency is a business which provides services for a person or another business.
We had to hire maids through an agency.
American English: agency
Arabic: وَكَالَة
Brazilian Portuguese: agência
Chinese: 机构
Croatian: agencija
Czech: agentura
Danish: bureau
Dutch: agentschap
European Spanish: agencia
Finnish: -toimisto
French: agence
German: Agentur
Greek: γραφείο
Italian: agenzia
Japanese: 代理店
Korean: 대행사
Norwegian: byrå
Polish: agencja
European Portuguese: agência
Romanian: agenție
Russian: агентство
Latin American Spanish: agencia
Swedish: agentur
Thai: บริษัทตัวแทน
Turkish: ajans
Ukrainian: агентство
Vietnamese: đại lý
All related terms of 'agency'
ad agency
An ad agency is a company whose business is to create advertisements for other companies or organizations.
agency fee
a fee charged by an agency
agency shop
a contract arrangement between an employer and the union representing the majority of employees , which requires those who do not wish to be members to pay the union a fee equivalent to union dues
aid agency
an organization that gives money, equipment , or services to people who need them but who cannot provide them for themselves
news agency
A news agency is an organization that gathers news stories from a particular country or from all over the world and supplies them to journalists .
spy agency
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration .
wire agency
See wire service
agency nurse
a nurse employed by an agency , rather than by a hospital
credit agency
an agency that checks whether people are able to pay for goods and services they wish to buy on credit , and provides them with a credit rating
dating agency
An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses.
escort agency
an agency where people, esp young women, may be hired to accompany someone for entertainment , etc
estate agency
An estate agency is a company that sells houses and land for people.
press agency
A country's press agency is an organization that gathers news from that country and supplies it to journalists from all over the world.
relief agency
an organization that provides aid for people in need, esp in disaster areas
ticket agency
an agency selling tickets for the theatre , cinema , public transport , etc
travel agency
A travel agency is a business which makes arrangements for people's holidays and journeys .
adoption agency
an agency that matches children needing adoption with people willing to adopt
benefits agency
an agency that handles the payment of benefits
federal agency
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration .
letting agency
a business which leases properties on behalf of their owners
ratings agency
An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses.
tourist agency
a person or company that provides package holidays
Training Agency
(in Britain , formerly) an organization that provided training and retraining for adult workers
advertising agency
An advertising agency is a company whose business is to create advertisements for other companies or organizations.
agency agreement
an agreement between a business and an agent appointed to promote its interests
collection agency
a firm that collects unpaid bills for other firms and is usually compensated by receiving a percentage of the amount collected
Countryside Agency
(in England, formerly) a government agency that promoted the conservation and enjoyment of the countryside and aimed to stimulate employment in rural areas
employment agency
An employment agency is a company whose business is to help people to find work and help employers to find the workers they need .
Environment Agency
an official agency providing information on environmental issues , esp rivers , flooding and pollution
government agency
An agency is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration .
marketing agency
An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses.
mercantile agency
an enterprise that collects and supplies information about the financial credit standing of individuals and enterprises
personnel agency
a company that recruits workers
publicity agency
an advertising agency ; a firm that gets publicity for people or products
recruitment agency
an agency specializing in the recruitment of staff to fill vacant positions
secretarial agency
a recruiting business which deals with jobs for secretaries
translation agency
an organization that provide people to translate speech or writing into a different language
voluntary agency
an organization that is composed of or functions with the aid of volunteers and which provides aid or services to individuals , groups or countries
agency spokesperson
a spokesperson for a government agency
intelligence agency
a state organization that gathers or deals with information
introduction agency
a company whose business is to match romantic partners for a fee
outplacement agency
an agency that provides counselling and careers advice , esp to redundant executives , which is paid for by their previous employer
Central India Agency
a former group of 89 states in India, under the supervision of a British political agent until 1947: most important were Indore , Bhopal , and Rewa
Child Support Agency
the British government agency concerned with the welfare of children
European Space Agency
an organization dedicated to space exploration with 18 European countries as members
Food Standards Agency
the full form of FDA
agency responsible for
An agency is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses.
credit-reference agency
an agency , other than a bank , that specializes in providing credit ratings of people or organizations
debt collection agency
a company that collects debts on behalf of creditors
law enforcement agency
an organization responsible for enforcing the law, such as a police or sheriff department
Chinese translation of 'agency'
agency
(ˈeɪdʒənsɪ)
n(c)
(Comm) 代理处(處) (dàilǐchù) (家, jiā)
(esp US, = government body) 机(機)构(構) (jīgòu)
1 (noun)
Definition
an organization providing a specific service
a successful advertising agency
Synonyms
business
The company was a family business.
company
She worked in an insurance company.
office
the honour and dignity of the office of President
firm
The firm's employees were expecting large bonuses.
department
He worked in the sales department.
organization
Most of the funds are provided by voluntary organizations.
enterprise
There are plenty of small industrial enterprises.
establishment
Shops and other commercial establishments remained closed today.
bureau
the foreign employment bureau
2 (noun)
Definition
action or power by which something happens
(old-fashioned)
a negotiated settlement through the agency of the UN
Synonyms
medium
English is used as a medium of instruction at primary level.
work
means
force
The army was the most powerful political force.
power
action
Her description of the action of poisons is very accurate.
operation
This change is due to the operation of several factors.
activity
There is an extraordinary level of activity in the market.
influence
They should continue to use their influence to push environmental reform.
vehicle
Her art became a vehicle for her political beliefs.
instrument
The veto is a traditional instrument for diplomacy.
intervention
the country's intervention in the internal affairs of others
mechanism
the clumsy mechanism of price controls
efficiency
mediation
They could reach a compromise through the mediation of a third party.
auspices
intercession
Many claimed to have been cured as a result of her intercessions.
instrumentality
Additional synonyms
in the sense of action
Her description of the action of poisons is very accurate.
Synonyms
effect,
working,
work,
force,
power,
process,
effort,
operation,
activity,
movement,
influence,
functioning,
motion,
exertion
in the sense of activity
Definition
the state of being active
There is an extraordinary level of activity in the market.
Synonyms
action,
work,
life,
labour,
movement,
energy,
exercise,
spirit,
enterprise,
motion,
bustle,
animation,
vigour,
hustle,
exertion,
hurly-burly,
liveliness,
activeness,
stir
in the sense of bureau
Definition
an office or agency, esp. one providing services for the public