agency
gb/ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/ us/ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
B1
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
organization providing a service
A company or group that helps people or other companies do something.
Usage pattern:
[an] agency [verb] [for/to] [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'agency' with 'agent.' An agent is an individual who acts on someone's behalf, while an agency is the organization employing agents.
Synonyms
firm (Often used for companies in general, not just service providers acting on behalf of clients.)
|
bureau (More common in government contexts, especially in American English.)
Antonyms
client (Refers to the person or organization receiving services, rather than the provider.)
Collocations
travel agency
|advertising agency
|real estate agency
|government agency
|employment agency
Themes
business
|government
|services
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The advertising agency created a new campaign for the product.
- She works at a travel agency that specializes in European tours.
- The government agency is responsible for enforcing environmental laws.
- We hired an employment agency to help us find qualified staff.
- The real estate agency showed us three houses in the neighborhood.
Learner examples
- I went to a travel agency to book my trip.
- She works for an advertising agency.
- The agency found a job for him.
- We called an agency to help us sell our house.
Noun
B2
property
2
capacity to act independently
The power to make your own choices and do things by yourself.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has agency
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this meaning with 'government agency' or 'company.' Here, it refers to personal power, not an organization.
Synonyms
autonomy (Emphasizes self-governance and independence, often in social or political contexts.)
Antonyms
dependence (The state of relying on others, opposite of self-directed action.)
Collocations
personal agency
|sense of agency
|loss of agency
Themes
psychology
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new policy aims to give workers more agency in decision-making.
- Therapy helped her regain a sense of agency after the accident.
- Children should be taught that they have agency over their own bodies.
Learner examples
- He has the agency to choose his career.
- She felt she had no agency in the matter.
- We want students to have more agency in school.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
means of achieving something
A way or tool used to make something happen.
Usage pattern:
by/through the agency of [something/someone]
Synonyms
instrumentality (Formal term for something used to achieve an end.)
Collocations
through the agency of
Themes
formal
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The rescue was accomplished through the agency of local volunteers.
- Change came about through the agency of grassroots movements.
- Justice was served by the agency of the courts.
Learner examples
- They solved the problem through the agency of experts.
- The work was done by the agency of machines.
Grammar
Dictionary form
agency
IPA
GB/ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
US/ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
Syllables & stress
agency (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (agency)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: agency
- Plural: agencies
Word family
Forms
agencies
noun
Core family
agent
noun B1
Advanced or less common
agentic
adjective
interagency
adjective
Expressions
advertising agency
1/ˈædvɚtˌaɪzɪŋ ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
company creating advertisements for clients
A company that makes ads for other companies.
Examples
- The advertising agency came up with a catchy slogan.
- She got a job at a small advertising agency downtown.
travel agency
1/tɹˈævəl ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
business arranging travel services
A company that helps people plan trips and buy tickets.
Examples
- We booked our vacation through a local travel agency.
- The travel agency offers discounted flights and hotels.
government agency
1/ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ˈeɪd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
Public organization under government control
An office or group that does work for the government.
Examples
- The Environmental Protection Agency is a well-known government agency in the US.
- The government agency monitors air quality across the country.
- Several government agencies are involved in disaster response.
- Funding will be provided by a government agency focused on education.