agent

noun

ˈā-jənt 

plural agents

1

: one that acts or exerts power

2

a

: 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)

agentive

ˈā-jən-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• agency
• instrument
• instrumentality
• machinery
• means
• medium
• ministry
• organ
• vehicle

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

Smirnov’s tenure as a confidential source for the FBI ended in spectacular fashion in February, with a grand jury in L.A. charging him with obstructing justice and lying to federal agents. —Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

The money is earmarked for further investment in the technology underpinning the platform – including features such as artificial intelligence agents that support sellers – and to put staff on the ground in its biggest markets, such as the US and the Middle East. —David Prosser, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

His plan was nearly foiled by Canadian border patrol agents who were suspicious of his not having a driver's license, which had been ditched in his wallet in the lake. —David K. Li, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

His claim is that the rot comes from the top, while the agents out there working hard and fighting crime are still American heroes. —Beverly Gage, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing agent

• agent-general
• agent provocateur
• alkylating agent
• counter-agent
• county agent
• delta agent
• double agent
• estate agent
• extension agent
• free agent
• general agent
• Indian agent
• insurance agent
• literary agent
• nerve agent
• oxidizing agent
• press agent
• real estate agent
• reducing agent
• road agent
• secret agent
• special agent
• sub-agent
• ticket agent
• travel agent
• wetting agent

Kids Definition

agent

noun

ˈā-jənt 

1

a

: something that produces an effect

a cleansing agent

b

: a chemically, physically, or biologically active substance

2

: a person who acts or does business for another

government agents

a real estate agent

Etymology

Middle English agent "one that produces an effect," derived from Latin agere "to drive, act, do" — related to act, agile

Medical Definition

agent

noun

ˈā-jənt 

1

: something that produces or is capable of producing an effect

2

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

Legal Definition

agent

noun

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

3

a

: 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

4

a

: 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