agency
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a business that provides a specific service for other people or companies.
an establishment or business authorised to act on behalf of another, typically providing specialised services.
Simple“She found a new apartment through a local rental agency.”
In context“The advertising agency spent months developing a comprehensive branding strategy to help the startup compete in the global market.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a department or office that is part of a government.
an administrative unit or department of a government responsible for specific functions or oversight.
Simple“The environmental agency is testing the water for pollution.”
In context“Several federal agencies collaborated on the disaster relief effort to ensure that resources reached the affected regions as quickly as possible.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the ability to make your own choices and take action to change your life.
the capacity of an individual to act independently and exercise free choice within a social structure.
Simple“The program helps young people feel they have agency over their own future.”
In context“Sociologists often debate the extent to which social structures limit an individual's sense of agency in modern society.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'exercise' or 'have'.
Antonymshelplessnesspassivity - 04 C1 Advanced
the way or the person through which something is achieved.
the state of being in action or the medium through which power is exerted or an end is achieved.
Simple“The two countries reached an agreement through the agency of a neutral mediator.”
In context“The virus was spread through the agency of migratory birds, making it difficult for local authorities to contain the outbreak.”
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'through the agency of'.
Usage agency reported · agency staff · human agency
“In a press statement, Indonesia’s national disaster agency, BNPB, said two people — a man and a woman — died at the Maumere port, and another person was injured.”
“The country's Aemet weather agency recorded temperatures of 37C in central regions on Thursday.”
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Medieval Latin agēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Medieval Latin -ius Medieval Latin -ia Medieval Latin agēntiabor. English agency From Medieval Latin agentia, from Latin agēns (present participle of agere (“to act”)), agentis (cognate with French agence, see also agent).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.