An agent is a person who looks after someone else's business affairs or does business on their behalf.
[business]
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
...a written declaration by someone, authorizing another person to act as his agent.
Synonyms: representative, deputy, substitute, advocate More Synonyms of agent
2. See also estate agent, press agent, travel agent
3. countable noun
An agent in the arts world is a person who gets work for an actor or musician, or who sells the work of a writer to publishers.
4. countable noun
An agent is a person who works for a country's secret service.
All these years he's been an agent for the East. [+ for]
Synonyms: spy, operative [US, Canadian], mole, secret agent More Synonyms of agent
5. countable noun [NOUNof noun]
If you refer to someone or something as the agentof a particular effect, you mean that they cause this effect.
Children can be agents of change in their communities.
6. countable noun
A chemical that has a particular effect or is used for a particular purpose can be referred to as a particular kind of agent.
...the bleaching agent in white flour.
...fibrinogen, a blood clotting agent.
Synonyms: force, means, power, cause More Synonyms of agent
More Synonyms of agent
agent in British English
(ˈeɪdʒənt)
noun
1.
a person who acts on behalf of another person, group, business, government, etc; representative
2.
a person or thing that acts or has the power to act
3.
a phenomenon, substance, or organism that exerts some force or effect
a chemical agent
4.
the means by which something occurs or is achieved; instrument
wind is an agent of plant pollination
5.
a person representing a business concern, esp a travelling sales representative
6. British short for estate agent
7. short for secret agent
Derived forms
agential (eɪˈdʒɛnʃəl)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin agent-, noun use of the present participle of agere to do
agent in American English
(ˈeɪdʒənt)
noun
1.
a person or thing that performs an action or brings about a certain result, or that is able to do so
2.
an active force or substance producing an effect
a chemical agent
3.
a person, firm, etc. empowered to act for another
4. US
a representative of a government agency
revenue agent
5. US, Informal
a traveling salesperson
6. Grammar
the word or words designating the person or thing that performs the action of the verb in a sentence
verb intransitive, verb transitive
7.
to act or work as an agent (on)
SYNONYMY NOTE: an agent is, generally, a person or thing that acts or is capable of acting, or, in this comparison,one who or that which acts, or is empowered to act, for another [the company's agent]; UNRESOLVED CROSS REF now usually denotes an agent for the sale of goods; a , deputy is a public official to whom certain authority has been delegated by superiors; , proxy implies the delegation of power to substitute for another in some formal or ceremonialdetail [some stockholders vote by proxy]
Word origin
L agens (gen. agentis), prp. of agere, act1
agent in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(eɪdʒənt)
Word forms: (regular plural) agents
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Ingredients)
A substance that has a particular effect or is used for a particular purpose can bereferred to as a particular kind of agent.
The type of emulsion produced depends on the solubility of the emulsifying agent.
A suspending agent is used to keep a drug in suspension and prevent it settling.
A substance that has a particular effect or is used for a particular purpose canbe referred to as a particular kind of agent.
suspending agent
Examples of 'agent' in a sentence
agent
An agent acting for a club could receive the fee without the player being taxed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An agent working for both sides of a transfer has a conflict of interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Work with your agent to set up refreshment pit stops where your home or grounds can be seen from flattering angles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He acted as his agent in his Riverside return.
The Sun (2016)
So they own the agent - the agent works for them as well.
The Sun (2016)
For him darkness was the principal dramatic agent in a work, and the underlying aim was supernatural.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It contains the antibacterial and whitening properties of toothpaste but without the chemicals, foaming agents and artificial flavours.
The Sun (2016)
You may get a rash from a particular cleaning agent.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
Sometimes it is the local bishop who acts as an agent of secular power.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then he found small businesses looking for offices via a website and also through property agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Agents work out the value of shorter leases as a percentage of long lease or freehold value.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Troops found a white powder they suspected to be a chemical warfare agent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their son is a lawyer who also acts as his agent.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The rest of us are reduced to passive spectators rather than active political agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Agents around the world are trembling with excitement.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Proving which chemical agent was used on the victims does not determine responsibility for the attack.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But now our phones are acting as our agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In this particular case the agents kept the property in the window and on their website until exchange.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
At its heart is the concept of breach of trust by an agent acting on behalf of a principal.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This flexible policy has enabled the firm to build up a very extensive network of national agents throughout the world.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
MI5 is said to have offered to provide the Libyan agents with business cards for the purpose.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
These agents work best in divided doses, rather than taken at one time.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
Not this particular agent, but it has happened.
The Sun (2008)
He is also a shareholder in his agent's business.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But between acting purely as agent on behalf of the client and acting purely as principal, there is a vast grey area.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We get accused of being agents of foreign powers,' she said.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was by then being branded as a traitor and rebel, and had found himself pursued by government agents and without a friend in the world.
Christianity Today (2000)
In a passive sentence the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is often leftout.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
If you don't visit the agent in person, then at least be sure to have a world map to hand when you phone.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
agent
Scots law terms
In other languages
agent
British English: agent /ˈeɪdʒənt/ NOUN
An agent is someone who arranges work or business for someone else.
You are buying direct, rather than through an agent.
American English: agent
Arabic: وَكِيل
Brazilian Portuguese: agente
Chinese: 代理商
Croatian: agent
Czech: agent
Danish: agent
Dutch: agent
European Spanish: agente representante
Finnish: agentti
French: agent
German: Vertreter
Greek: πράκτορας
Italian: agente
Japanese: 代理人
Korean: 대리인
Norwegian: agent
Polish: agent
European Portuguese: agente
Romanian: agent
Russian: агент
Latin American Spanish: agente Persona o cosa que produce un efecto
Swedish: ombud
Thai: ตัวแทน
Turkish: temsilci
Ukrainian: агент
Vietnamese: người trung gian
All related terms of 'agent'
law agent
(in Scotland) a solicitor holding a certificate from the Law Society of Scotland and thereby entitled to appear for a client in any Sheriff Court
Crown Agent
a member of a board appointed by the Minister for Overseas Development to provide financial , commercial , and professional services for a number of overseas governments and international bodies
free agent
If you say that someone is a free agent , you are emphasizing that they can do whatever they want to do, because they are not responsible to anyone or for anyone.
house agent
British → another name for estate agent
land agent
a person who administers a landed estate and its tenancies
nerve agent
A nerve agent is a chemical weapon that affects people's nervous systems.
news agent
→ newsdealer
press agent
A press agent is a person who is employed by a famous person to give information about that person to the press.
road agent
(formerly) a bandit who robbed stagecoaches ; highwayman
sole agent
the only appointed agent or representative
agent-general
a representative in London of a Canadian province or an Australian state
Agent Orange
a highly poisonous herbicide used as a spray for defoliation and crop destruction , esp by US forces during the Vietnam War
booking agent
an agent who makes bookings , as reservations for travel or the theater or engagements for performers, for clients
county agent
a government employee who gives advice on agriculture in a rural area
double agent
A double agent is someone who works as a spy for a particular country or organization , but who also works for its enemies .
drying agent
A drying agent is used in an absorption column (= a tall vessel) to remove water from fractions .
estate agent
An estate agent is someone who works for a company that sells houses and land for people.
export agent
an person who acts on behalf of a business to develop a market for a product or service in a foreign country
foreign agent
a spy for a foreign country
freight agent
a person who acts on behalf of others in arranging for freight to be transported
glazing agent
a substance that adds shine to the surface of food
Indian agent
an official who represents the US or Canadian government to a group of Native Americans
inquiry agent
a private detective
patent agent
a person who draws up applications for patents
raising agent
in baking , a substance added to dough to make it rise
release agent
a substance applied to a surface to stop things sticking to it, used commercially in food packaging , concrete construction , and the moulding of plastics
secret agent
A secret agent is a person who is employed by a government to find out the secrets of other governments.
special agent
a detective who works for the federal government in the US, for example for the FBI
ticket agent
a person who sells tickets for the theatre , cinema , public transport, etc
travel agent
A travel agent or travel agent's is a shop or office where you can go to arrange a holiday or journey .
wetting agent
any substance added to a liquid to lower its surface tension and thus increase its ability to spread across or penetrate into a solid
business agent
a representative of a labor union local , who investigates working conditions, negotiates contracts , etc.
chelating agent
a chemical compound that coordinates with a metal to form a chelate , often used to trap or remove heavy metal ions
chemical agent
an agent that produces chemical reactions
consular agent
a consul of one of the lower grades
descaling agent
something intended for use removing limescale from something such as a tap , kettle or coffee machine.
insurance agent
a person who sells insurance
literary agent
a person who manages the business affairs of an author
narcotics agent
an undercover agent who provides information to the police about illegal drugs, illegal drug trafficking , and users of illegal drugs
oxidizing agent
a substance that oxidizes another substance, being itself reduced in the process. Common oxidizing agents are oxygen , hydrogen peroxide , and ferric salts
publicity agent
A publicity agent is a person whose job is to make sure that a large number of people know about a person, show, or event so that they are successful .
reducing agent
a substance that reduces another substance in a chemical reaction , being itself oxidized in the process
shipping agent
a person or company whose business is to prepare shipping documents , arrange shipping space and insurance , and deal with customs requirements
transfer agent
a bank or trust company charged with keeping a record of the shareholders of a corporation and issuing and canceling stock certificates as shares are bought and sold
agent provocateur
An agent provocateur is a person who is employed by the government or the police to encourage certain groups of people to break the law, so they can arrest them or make them lose public support.
alkylating agent
any cytotoxic drug containing alkyl groups, such as chlorambucil , that acts by damaging DNA ; widely used in chemotherapy
antifoaming agent
a substance, usually an oil, that is added to liquids to stop them foaming when they are bottled , used in industry , as a food additive , etc
bargaining agent
an organization, usually a trade union, that acts or bargains on behalf of a group of employees in collective bargaining
brightening agent
a compound applied to a textile to increase its brightness by the conversion of ultraviolet radiation to visible (blue) light, used in detergents