agency

Plural: agencies

Noun

• A business or organization providing a service for others.
• an administrative unit of government
  • "the Central Intelligence Agency"
• a business that serves other businesses
• the state of being in action or exerting power
  • "the agency of providence"
  • "she has free agency"
• the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent
• how a result is obtained or an end is achieved
  • "an example is the best agency of instruction"
• The capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power.
• The capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.
• A medium through which power is exerted or an end is achieved.
• The office or function of an agent; also, the relationship between a principal and that person's agent.
• An establishment engaged in doing business for another; also, the place of business or the district of such an agency.
• A department or other administrative unit of a government; also, the office or headquarters of, or the district administered by, such unit of government.

Examples

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• authority of agency
• Central Intelligence Agency
• He pondered if there was an agency that could find high-scoring Words With Friends words for him.
• individual agency
• moral agency

Synonyms

authority, bureau, delegacy, federal agency, government agency, means, office, representation, way, action, activity, agency, agent, agentship, cause, device, force, function, instrumentality, management, operation, power

Related Words

act, action, agent