agency

noun

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agen·cy | \ ˈā-jən(t)-sē

plural agencies

Definition of agency

1a : the office or function of an agent (see agent sense 4)

b : the relationship between a principal and that person's agent

2 : the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power : operation

3 : a person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved : instrumentality communicated through the agency of the ambassador

4 : an establishment engaged in doing business for another an advertising agency

5 : an administrative division (as of a government) the agency for consumer protection

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing agency Learn More About agency

Examples of agency in a Sentence

the federal agency in charge of printing money The employment agency helps those who have been recently laid off find jobs.

Recent Examples on the Web The bulk of the 1.1 million doses initially sat in a plant that needed to be inspected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a typical process for the agency. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2022 Ian Happ, who is eligible for free agency after 2023. — Phil Rogers, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Gallo, 28, is eligible for free agency after this season. — Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2022 The search for al-Zawahri carried huge importance for the agency. — New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 Musgrove has an $8,625,000 salary and was on track to be eligible for free agency after the World Series. — Bernie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2022 Martinez and Vázquez are eligible for free agency, and Bogaerts can opt out of his contract. — Ken Powtak, Hartford Courant, 31 July 2022 Eligible for free agency after the season, Judge has 42 homers and is on pace for 67. — Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 31 July 2022 Alisha Lewis, a spokeswoman for the state agency, said a group of higher education professionals annually evaluates the productivity model, adding that any recommendations for change would be presented to the board in October. — Jaime Adame, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2022 See More

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

Learn More About agency

Dictionary Entries Near agency

Agenais

agency

agency shop

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Last Updated

9 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Agency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agency. Accessed 15 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for agency

agency

noun

agen·cy | \ ˈā-jən-sē

plural agencies

Kids Definition of agency

1 : a person or thing through which power is used or something is achieved Through the agency of his former school, he reunited with some old friends.

2 : a business that provides a particular service an advertising agency

3 : a part of a government that is responsible for providing a particular service or performing a specific function law enforcement agencies

agency

noun

agen·cy

plural agencies

Legal Definition of agency

1 : the person or thing through which power is exerted or an end is achieved death by criminal agency— W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

2a : a consensual fiduciary relationship in which one party acts on behalf of and under the control of another in dealing with third parties also : the power of one in such a relationship to act on behalf of another

Note: A principal is bound by and liable for acts of his or her agent that are within the scope of the agency.

— actual agency

: the agency that exists when an agent is in fact employed by a principal — see also express agency and implied agency in this entry

— agency by estoppel

: an agency that is not created as an actual agency by a principal and an agent but that is imposed by law when a principal acts in such a way as to lead a third party to reasonably believe that another is the principal's agent and the third party is injured by relying on and acting in accordance with that belief

Note: A principal has a duty to correct a third party's mistaken belief in an agent's authority to act on the principal's behalf. If the principal could have corrected the misunderstanding but failed to do so, he or she is estopped from denying the existence of the agency and is bound by the agent's acts in dealing with the third party.

— agency coupled with an interest

: an agency in which the agent has an interest in the property regarding which he or she is acting on the principal's behalf

— apparent agency

: agency by estoppel in this entry

— exclusive agency

: an agency common in real estate sales in which the property owner agrees to employ no agents to sell the property other than the one hired for a specified period

— express agency

: an actual agency created by the written or spoken words of the principal authorizing the agent to act — compare implied agency in this entry

— general agency

: an agency in which the agent is authorized to perform on behalf of the principal in all matters in furtherance of a particular business of the principal — compare special agency in this entry

— implied agency

: an actual agency created by acts of a principal that reasonably imply an intention to create an agency relationship — compare express agency in this entry

— ostensible agency

: agency by estoppel in this entry

— special agency

: an agency in which the agent is authorized to perform only specified acts or to act only in a specified transaction — compare general agency in this entry

— universal agency

: general agency in this entry

b : the office and function of an agent even when granted discretion in carrying out his agency— R. C. Clark

c : the law concerned with the relationship of a principal and an agent

3 : an establishment engaged in doing the business of another: as

a : an establishment authorized by an insurance company to sell insurance policies and provide services offered by the insurer

b : an establishment authorized by property owners to find a buyer for their property

Note: Many businesses that use the term agency are not truly agencies as defined in sense 2.

4 : a department or other unit of government created by legislation to administer the law in a particular area of public concern

— called also administrative agency

— see also enabling statute, exhaustion of remedies, Administrative Procedure Act

Note: When a legislature determines that government involvement is needed in a particular social activity or problem, it may write legislation creating an agency either directly or by authorizing the executive to set it up. Agencies exist at the federal, state, and local levels. Most federal agencies are attached to the executive branch of government. Some agencies (such as the Environmental Protection Agency) are called an agency. An agency may, however, be called such other names as board (as the National Labor Relations Board), commission (as the Securities and Exchange Commission), administration (as the Social Security Administration), and service (as the Internal Revenue Service). Agencies at the federal level are governed by the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, which is found at title 5 of the U.S. Code.

— independent agency

: an agency that is not part of any of the three branches of government

— regulatory agency

: an agency that is authorized by the legislature to establish and enforce rules regulating its particular area of concern —often used interchangeably with agency or administrative agency