Reading Theme:
Agency Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：business or organization (agency)
agency
/ˈeɪdʒənsi/
n.
A place or company that does a specific job for you, like finding a house or helping you travel.
business or organization
➕
/ˈbɪznəs ɔːr ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃn/
n.
A company or institution that provides a specific service on behalf of others.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'agere' (to do, drive) + suffix '-ency', indicating state or quality.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of an AGENT who works at an AGENCY. Both come from 'act' - an agent acts, an agency enables action.
📖 Example
I found my perfect apartment through a real estate agency downtown.
I secured my ideal apartment with the help of a downtown real estate agency.
🔗 Collocations
real estate agency – a business that helps people buy, sell, or rent properties
advertising agency – a company that creates and manages advertisements for clients
travel agency – a company that arranges holidays and journeys for people
🔄 Synonyms
firm (n.) – a business organization, especially one involved in a professional service
bureau (n.) – an office or organization providing a specific service, often governmental
organization (n.) – a group of people with a particular purpose, such as a business
🚫 Antonyms
client (n.) – a person or organization using the services of a professional agency
individual (n.) – a single person acting alone, not as part of an organization
🌱 Derivatives
agent (n.) – a person who acts on behalf of another, especially in business
📖 Cultural Story
Originates from Medieval Latin 'agentia', meaning 'doing'. It evolved to denote both the action itself and the organization performing it. Central to modern sociology and philosophy, contrasting structure (social forces) with individual agency (personal power to act).
Meaning 2：capacity to act (agency)
agency
/ˈeɪdʒənsi/
n.
The feeling and power you have to make your own choices and change things in your life.
capacity to act
➕
/kəˈpæsəti tuː ækt/
n.
The power or ability of an individual to act independently, make their own free choices, and influence their own life and environment.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The program aims to give young people a stronger sense of agency over their future careers.
The program's goal is to empower young people to take more control over their future career paths.
🔗 Collocations
sense of agency – the feeling of being in control of one's own actions and their consequences
exercise agency – to use one's own power to make choices and take action
🔄 Synonyms
autonomy (n.) – the right or condition of self-government and making independent decisions
initiative (n.) – the ability to assess and begin things independently
empowerment (n.) – the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life
🚫 Antonyms
helplessness (n.) – the feeling or state of being unable to defend oneself or act effectively
dependency (n.) – the state of relying on someone or something else for support
🌱 Derivatives
co-agency (n.) – the joint power or capacity to act, shared between individuals or entities
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser