Agency

/ˈeɪdʒənsi/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonBusiness
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A business or organization that provides a particular service

/ˈeɪdʒənsi/

nounneutralBeginner
Business

A business that provides a service

The advertising agency created a successful campaign.

💡 Simply: A company that helps people.

More Examples

2

She started her own travel agency.

How It's Used

Business

"She works for a marketing agency."

Real Estate

"The real estate agency sold the house quickly."

2

The capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power.

/ˈeɪdʒənsi/

nounneutralIntermediate
Philosophy

The capacity to act independently

She asserted her agency by choosing her own path.

💡 Simply: The ability to act on your own.

More Examples

2

The author explores themes of human agency and free will.

How It's Used

Philosophy

"The agency of the individual is paramount."

Psychology

"The study explored the relationship between free will and agency."

Tip:Think of an agent acting independently.

Idioms & expressions

under the agency of

Through the action or influence of someone or something.

"The change was brought about under the agency of a powerful lobbyist."

From Middle French agence, from agencer "to arrange," from Old French a (to) + gencier "to manage," from Latin agere "to do, to act, to drive"

Historically, the term often referred to an office or official responsible for managing a specific task or area.

Memory tip

Think of agents working together in an agency.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to do, to act, to drive"

advertising agencytravel agencygovernment agencyemployment agencyreal estate agencyliterary agency

Common misspellings

agenciagancyagensie

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written