agency
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A business or organization providing a particular service, especially on behalf of other businesses or people; the capacity to act independently and make free choices.
The action or intervention producing a particular effect; a government department responsible for a specific area of administration; the state of being in action or exerting power.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has both concrete (organization) and abstract (capacity to act) meanings. In sociology/philosophy, emphasizes individual autonomy versus social structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage largely identical. 'Agency' in government context (e.g., Environment Agency) is common in UK. In US, 'agency' often refers to federal bodies (e.g., CIA).
Connotations
UK: Slightly more formal for small businesses (might use 'service' or 'bureau' colloquially). US: Strongly associated with government bodies and advertising/media firms.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English due to common reference to government agencies.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
agency of + noun (abstract cause)agency for + noun (purpose)agency to + infinitive (purpose)through the agency of + noun (means)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “free agency”
- “moral agency”
- “through the agency of”
- “have agency over”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a service-providing company (e.g., marketing agency).
Academic
Central in sociology, philosophy, and political science discussing individual vs. structural power.
Everyday
Commonly refers to businesses that book holidays or help find jobs.
Technical
In law, a relationship where one party acts for another; in computing, an intelligent software agent.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- She found the flat through a local estate agency.
- The new regulatory agency will oversee online safety.
- Children should be taught about their own moral agency.
American English
- He works for a federal law enforcement agency.
- The advertising agency won an award for its campaign.
- The debate centered on the individual's agency versus social determinants.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We booked our holiday at the travel agency.
- There is a job at the employment agency.
- The government agency is responsible for food standards.
- The charity is an aid agency helping refugees.
- The environmental agency issued a new set of guidelines for waste disposal.
- Her success was achieved through her own agency, not through family connections.
- The philosophical concept of agency is central to debates on free will and determinism.
- The regulatory agency's remit was expanded to cover digital currencies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a travel AGENT who has the AGENCY to book your trip. An 'agent' works for an 'agency' and has the 'agency' to act.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGENCY IS A TOOL / AGENCY IS A FORCE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'агентство' (covers business meaning) but not the abstract 'capacity to act' meaning. Abstract meaning requires 'способность действовать', 'инициатива', 'воля'.
- Confusing 'agency' (capacity) with 'agenda' (план, повестка дня).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'agency' as a synonym for any small company (it implies a service for clients).
- Confusing 'estate agency' (UK) with 'real estate agency' (US).
- Using plural 'agencies' incorrectly for uncountable abstract meaning (you have agency, not agencies).
Practice
Quiz
In sociological terms, 'agency' is most often contrasted with:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. Countable: 'There are three recruitment agencies on this street.' Uncountable (abstract): 'The program aims to increase young people's sense of agency.'
An 'agent' is a person or thing that acts. An 'agency' is either the organization employing such agents or the abstract capacity/state of acting.
No, 'agency' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to act' or 'to agent' (less common, meaning to represent).
It refers to a player who is free to sign a contract with any team, not bound to their current one.
Collections
Part of a collection
Social Theory
C1 · 47 words · Advanced vocabulary for sociology and social science.
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