agent

noun

\ ˈā-jənt

plural agents

Definition of agent

1 : one that acts or exerts power

2a : something that produces or is capable of producing an effect : an active or efficient cause Education proved to be an agent of change in the community.

b : a chemically, physically, or biologically active principle an oxidizing agent

3 : a means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result

4 : one who is authorized to act for or in the place of another: such as

a : a representative, emissary, or official of a government crown agent federal agent

b : one engaged in undercover activities (such as espionage) : spy a secret agent

c : a business representative (as of an athlete or entertainer) a theatrical agent

5 : a computer application designed to automate certain tasks (such as gathering information online)

Other Words from agent Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about agent

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Examples of agent in a Sentence

They worked with a travel agent to plan their vacation. the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach

Recent Examples on the Web

Federal agents descended onto Houston on Monday morning and over the weekend as part of the nationwide sweeps, according to advocates and eyewitnesses. — Rick Jervis, azcentral, "Did ICE raids happen? Trump says yes, but time frame is unclear," 15 July 2019 Federal agents on Sunday will begin a nationwide effort to arrest immigrants who have been issued final deportation orders. — CBS News, "Local leaders push back against planned ICE raids," 13 July 2019 Long term, the information helps keep track of ICE activities, for example, where local law enforcement is working with federal agents, says Cynthia Garcia-Castro, United We Dream’s deportation defense manager. — Ana Campoy, Quartz, "The best ways to help immigrants in the US caught up in ICE raids," 12 July 2019 The detailed Daily Beast story also said Epstein hosted events for Interlochen at the same New York City townhouse raided by federal agents last weekend. — Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, "Accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has ties to Michigan's Interlochen arts school," 12 July 2019 Some federal agents are apprehensive about arresting children and babies, the Times reported. — Loyd Brumfield, Dallas News, "Nationwide ICE raids planned for Sunday, New York Times reports," 11 July 2019 Louisville has had an ordinance in place the last two years that blocks Metro Police officers from assisting federal immigration agents on immigration matters unless a judge signs a warrant or there is a danger to the public. — Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Bevin backs Kentucky bill that would block 'sanctuary policies' for undocumented immigrants," 11 July 2019 And searches are often executed with nothing more formal than an email from a federal agent to a local contact, the records show. — al.com, "How the FBI and ICE use driver license photos in investigations without consent," 8 July 2019 Undercover federal agents bought heroin from members of the drug crew, prosecutors wrote. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Indictment in basketball court killing alleges violence, camaraderie in Southwest Baltimore drug crew," 8 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for agent

Middle English, "force capable of acting on matter," borrowed from Medieval Latin agent-, agens "something capable of producing an effect, person authorized to act for another," going back to Latin, present participle of agere "to drive (cattle), ride (a horse), be in motion, do, perform, transact," going back to Indo-European *h₂eǵ- "drive," whence Sanskrit ajati "(s/he) drives," Greek ágein "to lead, carry off," Armenian acem "(I) lead," Old Irish ad-aig "drives, impels," Old Norse aka "to travel in a vehicle"

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Dictionary Entries near agent

Statistics for agent

Last Updated

19 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for agent

The first known use of agent was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for agent

enrolled agent

noun

Financial Definition of enrolled agent

What It Is

An enrolled agent (EA) is person who is authorized to represent a taxpayer before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

How It Works

To become an EA, a person has to pass a three-part comprehensive IRS test of individual and business tax returns or be a former IRS employee with appropriate experience. To maintain the credential, EAs must obey ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years.

The EA designation is the highest one the IRS confers, and EAs have the authority to represent any taxpayer for any tax matter.

Why It Matters

Tax advisors can be CPAs, attorneys, or other people, but not all tax advisors are EAs. Treasury Department Circular No. 230 sets forth the requirements for who can practice before the IRS.

EAs and other tax advisors might help a client structure his assets such that his estate taxes are lower. They might help a company organize itself so that its shareholders pay less in taxes or so that an acquisition does not generate a large tax liability.

Source: Investing Answers

transfer agent

noun

Financial Definition of transfer agent

What It Is

A transfer agent manages and maintains records of who owns a corporation's or mutual fund's stock or bonds. Most transfer agents are banks or trust companies, although some companies act as their own transfer agents.

How It Works

Let's assume Company XYZ is a publicly traded corporation that has 10,000,000 shares outstanding. If the shares trade all day, how does Company XYZ know who owns its shares? The answer lies with the transfer agent.

The transfer agent has three big jobs: 1) to issue and cancel stock certificates (including when a company pays a stock dividend or has a stock split); 2) to be an intermediary that makes the dividend or interest payments, sends out and keeps track of proxy materials, exchanges the company's stock or bonds if a merger occurs, tenders shares when necessary, and mails the company's financials and other reports; and, 3) to deal with replacing lost, stolen, or destroyed certificates.

Why It Matters

Transfer agents are crucial behind-the-scenes entities in the business world because they maintain important information and protect even the smallest shareholder or bondholder's right to information disclosure. Without transfer agents, companies would have to find other ways to manage the incredible, time-consuming tasks of keeping track of the constant changes in shareholder and bondholder information.

Source: Investing Answers

agent

noun

English Language Learners Definition of agent

: a person who does business for another person : a person who acts on behalf of another

: a person who tries to get secret information about another country, government, etc.

: a person or thing that causes something to happen

See the full definition for agent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

agent

noun

\ ˈā-jənt

Kids Definition of agent

1 : something that produces an effect cleansing agents

2 : a person who acts or does business for another a travel agent

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agent

noun

\ ˈā-jənt

Medical Definition of agent

1 : something that produces or is capable of producing an effect

2 : a chemically, physically, or biologically active principle — see oxidizing agent, reducing agent

agent

noun

Legal Definition of agent

1 : someone or something that acts or exerts power : a moving force in achieving some result

2 : a person guided or instigated by another in some action where the heads of departments are the political…agents of the executive, merely to execute the will of the president — Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803) — see also innocent agent

3a : a person or entity (as an employee or independent contractor) authorized to act on behalf of and under the control of another in dealing with third parties — see also agency sense 2, fiduciary relationship, subagent — compare fiduciary, principal, servant

— apparent agent

: an agent acting under an agency by estoppel

— bargaining agent

: a labor union that represents the employees in a bargaining unit in negotiating with their employer through collective bargaining

— business agent

: an agent that handles business affairs for another person or organization especially : a paid official of a union who carries on union business between the employees and the employer

— collective bargaining agent

: bargaining agent in this entry

— del credere agent

: an agent that guarantees to his or her principal that third parties involved in the transaction will pay or perform

— enrolled agent

: a person qualified through expertise and good reputation to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service

— exclusive agent

: an agent acting under an exclusive agency

— general agent

: an agent acting under a general agency

— legislative agent

: an agent (as for an interest group) that lobbies a legislature especially professionally

— managing agent

: an agent or employee of a corporation or other business entity who has a position that involves the use of judgment and discretion and who is considered under the law as capable of accepting service of process and answering questions under cross-examination on behalf of the business entity

— ostensible agent

: an agent acting under an agency by estoppel

— special agent

: an agent authorized to do one or more specific acts under particular instructions or within restrictions implied by the nature of the authorized acts : an agent acting under a special agency — compare general agent in this entry

— transfer agent

: an officer, bank, or trust company that acts on behalf of a publicly held corporation in handling the transfer of stock and other securities and keeping records of the owners

— universal agent

: an agent acting under a general agency

b : a representative (as of a corporation or nonresident administrator of an estate) designated to accept service of process on behalf of the represented party usually as required by statute

c : a person or organization that finds buyers or tenants for real estate owners usually for a commission

d : an independent sales or service representative of an insurance company — compare broker

4a : a representative, emissary, or official of a government a diplomatic agent

b : an employee of a government agency usually that is involved in law enforcement