Agency is a noun with several related meanings. It can mean an organizationA group set up to do a particular job or service. that provides a service, a governmentThe system or body that runs a country or region. office, or the power to act and produce results. In some older or more formal usage, it also means acting on someone’s behalf or the state of being active and effectiveSuccessful in achieving the intended result..
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈeɪdʒənsi/
Easy pronunciation: AY-jən-see (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: AY.
Use this for the noun meaning a business or organization that provides a service or arranges deals.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Agency Meaning
a company or office that helps arrange services or deals
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a business or organization that provides a particular service, especially by arranging things between two parties
Example: We booked the trip through a travel agency.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bureau — Works in some service or office contexts, but not for every kind of agency.
- office — Can be close in meaning when referring to an organization, though it is broader and less specific.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Agency
Meaning 2
the role of acting for someone else with official authority
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent
Example: He acted in agency for the company abroad.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- delegacy — A close match for the official role of a delegate or representative.
- representation — Works when agency means acting on behalf of another person or group.
Meaning 3
something that causes a result or helps make something happen
Part of speech: noun
Definition: thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
Example: Education is an important agency of change.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- means — A genuine substitute when agency means a way or instrument for achieving something.
- way — Can fit in some contexts, but it is less exact than means.
Meaning 4
a government department or office
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an administrative unit of government
Example: She works for a federal agency.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- authority — Can work when agency refers to an official government body.
- bureau — A close synonym in many government-context uses.
- federal agency — A specific type of government agency.
- government agency — A direct and practical match for this sense.
- office — Can overlap in meaning, though it is broader and may refer to a place or position.
Meaning 5
the power to act or make things happen
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the state of being in action or exerting power
Example: The character has very little agency in the story.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Agency Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bureau
- office
official role of acting for someone else
- delegacy
- representation
a means of causing a result
- means
- way
a government department or office
- authority
- bureau
- federal agency
- government agency
- office
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse agency meaning a business or service organization with agency meaning the power to act or make decisions.
- Government agency is a type of agency, not a separate unrelated word.
- In everyday English, agency rarely means simply 'way' unless the context is formal or older.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main meaning of agency?
The most common everyday meaning is an organization that provides a service, such as a travel agency or advertising agency.
What are the synonyms of agency?
Common synonyms depend on the sense. For a service organization, bureau and sometimes office can fit. For acting on behalf of someone, representation and delegacy can work. For a government unit, bureau and government agency are close.
What does agency mean in psychology or literature?
It usually means the power to act independently and make choices, especially when a person is not just being controlled by outside forces.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-17. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.