plural agents
1
: a person who does business for another person : a person who acts on behalf of another
They worked with a travel agent to plan their vacation.
The actor got a starring role through his (theatrical) agent.
a literary agent [=a person who helps writers to get their works published]
2
: a person who tries to get secret information about another country, government, etc. : spy secret agent
a government agent
3
: a person or thing that causes something to happen
They view themselves as agents of social change. [=people who cause social change to happen]
4
: something (such as a chemical) that is used to produce a particular effect or result
The drug is an effective agent for the treatment of asthma.
the main flavoring agent in the drink
Cornstarch is used as a thickening agent in sauces.
Cite this Entry
“Agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/agent. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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