Agent
/ˈeɪdʒənt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA person who acts on behalf of another person or organization.
/ˈeɪdʒənt/
A person who acts on behalf of another.
She's a travel agent.
💡 Simply: Someone who does things for someone else.
More Examples
He's a secret agent.
How It's Used
"The real estate agent helped us find the perfect house."
"The FBI agent was investigating the case."
A substance or thing that acts to produce a particular effect.
/ˈeɪdʒənt/
A substance that produces a particular effect.
This cleaning agent is very effective.
💡 Simply: Something that causes something else to happen.
More Examples
A foaming agent is used in this recipe.
How It's Used
"The chemical agent caused a reaction."
"The medication acts as a therapeutic agent."
From Middle French agent, from Latin agens, present participle of agere "to do, drive, act, lead".
The word 'agent' has been used in a similar sense to its modern meaning since the Middle Ages.
Memory tip
Think of someone acting as an 'agent' for change.
Word Origin
"to do, drive, act, lead"