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agency

agency

3.0
A business or organization that provides services for other people
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
translation icon : agencia
  • And she will contact talent agencies that have people in their books.
  • federal agencies
  • government agencies
  • state agencies

He's like, you know, we're an agency who plans for asteroids, OK.

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Examples

  • Our institutions and agencies are no longer working for us.

  • The travel agency offered great deals on vacation packages.

  • I need a second job, thought about estate agency and all these things.

  • The funny thing is the funding agencies were pretty hands off.

  • Those public health agencies should all have much more autonomy.

  • More than 100 coastal scientists in government agencies and universities in Australia provide content for the website.

    Academic text (2011)
  • A second stage of intervention involves collaboration with available community agencies to address continuing needs.

    Academic text (2011)
  • They really value when external agencies can come in and help them.

  • It's a news agency.

  • NOAA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are the lead agencies for the NRDA.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

commission
vsagency
  • Formal
411 4.1

A group of people chosen to investigate or manage something

is the general label for any organization providing services or acting for others
bureau
vsagency
354 5.8

A government department that deals with a specific area, like investigations

is the broad term that includes many types of organizational units
87 3.1

An official part of the government that provides a public service

is a general organization that provides services or acts for others
intelligence agency
vsagency
  • Specialized
64 2.8

A group that collects and studies secret information about other countries and threats

is the wider category that includes security and non-security organizations
federal agency
vsagency
58 3.4

A government organization that does specific jobs for the national government, like the Environmental Protection Agency

is any organization providing services, not only those at national level
organ
vsagency
  • Formal
42 5.5

A part of an organization, often a government, that has a particular job

is the general category that can include parts and whole organizations
regulatory agency
vsagency
  • Formal
11 4.0

A government group that checks companies and makes them follow safety rules to protect people

is a neutral term for any organization that provides services or acts
local agency
vsagency
6 3.0

A group in an area that helps local people with services

is the broader term that also covers local or larger organizations
6 2.5

A part of government that runs public services like schools

is a general service organization not limited to government divisions
service agency
vsagency
6 3.9

A business that provides services like event planning or computer work to other companies for a fee

is a broader term that also covers public and noncommercial service providers
independent agency
vsagency
  • Formal
4 5.0

A government group in the United States created by Congress that works apart from executive departments

is a broad service provider that may be independent or not
1 3.5

An organization within the United Nations that works on one area like health or education

is a general organization that may operate locally, nationally, or internationally
UN agency
vsagency
1 3.4

An organization that works with the United Nations on a particular task, for example health or children

is the general name for any body that provides services or acts for others
executive agency
vsagency
  • Formal
1 5.8

A government office that manages certain public services for the country's leader

is the general label for any service or acting organization
instrumentality
vsagency
  • Formal
1 8.9

A government office that does one specific job

is a general organization that may include specially created units
subagency
vsagency
  • Formal
6.6

A small office that works under a larger organization

is the broader role that can include both primary and subordinate units
superagency
vsagency
  • Formal
7.7

A very large government organization that oversees several smaller agencies

is the more general term that does not imply coordination or dominance

Compounds

An official part of the government that provides a public service

intelligence agency
  • Specialized
64 2.8

A group that collects and studies secret information about other countries and threats

A government organization that does specific jobs for the national government, like the Environmental Protection Agency

A group that makes sure people follow rules and stops crime and finds who did it

A U.S. government group that makes and enforces rules to reduce pollution and protect the environment

free agency
  • Jargon
30 3.7

A time when a player can sign with any team because they have no contract

news agency
  • Literature
29 2.5

An organization that gathers news and sends it to newspapers and TV stations

A United States government organization that collects secret information about other countries

22 3.0

A company that makes ads and plans how to show them to customers

20 2.4

A business that arranges trips like flights and hotels

A company that makes messages to sell things for other businesses

11 4.0

A government group that checks companies and makes them follow safety rules to protect people

10 3.4

An organization that plans and runs missions to explore and use outer space

A US government agency that coordinates help during disasters like hurricanes or floods

A business that helps people find jobs and employers find workers

6 3.0

A group in an area that helps local people with services

A business that provides services like event planning or computer work to other companies for a fee

A business that looks into problems and finds information for people or companies

An international organization that helps countries use nuclear energy safely and peacefully

4 5.0

A government group in the United States created by Congress that works apart from executive departments

A US government agency that protects secret information and gathers foreign intelligence

A United States agency that enforces laws about illegal drugs and arrests people who sell them

press agency
  • Literature
1 4.0

A group that collects news and sends it to newspapers, TV, and websites

1 3.4

An organization that works with the United Nations on a particular task, for example health or children

An organization within the United Nations that works on one area like health or education

1 5.8

A government office that manages certain public services for the country's leader

An organization that protects children and gives help for their safety and development

A U.S. government group that builds new tools and systems for the military

A part of the United States government that gives military information to help plan operations and buy weapons

1 3.2

A group in the armed forces that collects and studies information about enemy plans and troops

causal agency
  • Specialized
8.8

A thing or person that makes something happen

A company that gives businesses information about other companies, like credit ratings

A part of the U.S. military that runs and protects computer and communication systems for top leaders

A United States agency that provides and moves supplies for the armed forces and other government groups worldwide

agency security
  • Specialized
6.7

An investment sold by a United States government agency or the Farm Credit System

A company that gives businesses information about other companies' ability to pay bills

A government group from another country that collects secret information

United States government agency that makes and studies maps and satellite images for national security

No Such Agency
  • Informal
7.9

A joking name for the US spy agency used to say it is secret or not real

How Big

national
2.7
agency
3.0
local agency
6 3.0

Surface Forms

agency singular
agencies plural

Morphology

agency = agent (transparent) = agent + cy

The organizational meaning ('a business or organization that acts for others') is a direct extension of 'agent' + '-cy' meaning the office or entity of agents.

Etymology

Agency can mean a business or organization of people who act for others, and the word comes from Latin agere 'to do' and the idea of an agent. So an agency is a place that 'acts' for clients, like a travel or employment agency.