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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They worked with a travel agent to plan their vacation. the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach
Recent Examples on the Web Conover's fraternity brother Kory Keefer, real estate agent Jessica Stocker and Rachel Clark — who came through with some last-minute floral arrangements for Batula and Cooke's wedding — are also joining the Bravo stars in Stowe. 
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Then in 2011, the home was purchased by fashion and costume designer Jeff Mahshie, who then sold it in 2018 to Glen Rice, a real estate agent who has now put it on the market. David Kaufman, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2022 According to Malia Tarasek, a real estate agent of Lucido Global at Keller Williams and Pat Tarasek’s daughter, one property is on the market: a four-bedroom, three-bathroom rambler for $650,000. Madison Rudolf, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Home buyers are less likely to buy flood-prone houses if they’re made aware of the risk, U.S. real estate agent Redfin found through an experiment in collaboration with climate non-profit First Street Foundation. Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 But not just any couple — a couple that happens to be one part real estate agent, one part Hollywood star. Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2022 Bure plays Maggie Larson, a busy real estate agent and Type-A mom, in the new film. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 Sep. 2022 The seller is real estate agent Fred Bernstein of Westside Estate Agency, who doubled as a developer and bought the property for $12.25 million in 2016 from Megan Ellison, the film producer and daughter of billionaire Larry Ellison. Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 All while designer Hilary Farr and real estate agent David Visentin battle it out to convince them to, well, either love it or list it! Janaya Wecker, Country Living, 9 Sep. 2022 See More
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Then in 2011, the home was purchased by fashion and costume designer Jeff Mahshie, who then sold it in 2018 to Glen Rice, a real estate agent who has now put it on the market. David Kaufman, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2022 According to Malia Tarasek, a real estate agent of Lucido Global at Keller Williams and Pat Tarasek’s daughter, one property is on the market: a four-bedroom, three-bathroom rambler for $650,000. Madison Rudolf, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Home buyers are less likely to buy flood-prone houses if they’re made aware of the risk, U.S. real estate agent Redfin found through an experiment in collaboration with climate non-profit First Street Foundation. Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 But not just any couple — a couple that happens to be one part real estate agent, one part Hollywood star. Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2022 Bure plays Maggie Larson, a busy real estate agent and Type-A mom, in the new film. Emily Longeretta, Variety, 13 Sep. 2022 The seller is real estate agent Fred Bernstein of Westside Estate Agency, who doubled as a developer and bought the property for $12.25 million in 2016 from Megan Ellison, the film producer and daughter of billionaire Larry Ellison. Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 All while designer Hilary Farr and real estate agent David Visentin battle it out to convince them to, well, either love it or list it! Janaya Wecker, Country Living, 9 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
agent
noun
ˈā-jənt
1
: something that produces an effect
cleansing agents
2
: a person who acts or does business for another
a travel agent
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 Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803)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
agent
noun
1
as in instrumentality
something used to achieve an end the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach the Church has been the traditional agent for social justice in impoverished countries Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- instrumentality
- means
- agency
- vehicle
- instrument
- mechanism
- factor
- machinery
- organ
- tool
- incentive
- power
- ministry
- ingredient
- influence
- medium
- catalyst
- weapon
- driver
- determinant
- activator
- executor
- impetus
- cause
- generator
- reason
- mover
- subagent
- stimulus
- expedient
- trigger
- antecedent
- subagency
- animator
- inspiration
- instigator
- launcher
- energizer
- instigation
- occasion
2
as in representative
a person who acts or does business for another the sports agent negotiated a record-breaking contract for the baseball player Synonyms & Similar Words
- representative
- deputy
- delegate
- attorney
- manager
- rep
- proxy
- ambassador
- minister
- assignee
- envoy
- factor
- commissary
- spokesperson
- procurator
- diplomat
- surrogate
- distributor
- operative
- broker
- spokesman
- plenipotentiary
- informer
- spy
- replacement
- emissary
- intermediary
- foreign minister
- alternate
- substitute
- sub
- liaison
- diplomatist
- legate
- speaker
- mediator
- backup
- arbitrator
- middleman
- understudy
- arbiter
- stand-in
- intercessor
- pinch hitter
- mouthpiece
- relief
- conciliator
- peacemaker
- comprador
- point man
- prophet
- go-between
- compradore
- point person
- interposer
3
as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another an undercover agent of the Crown Synonyms & Similar Words
- ambassador
- representative
- delegate
- envoy
- minister
- emissary
- diplomat
- consul
- legate
- deputy
- attaché
- proxy
- spokesperson
- missionary
- foreign minister
- messenger
- procurator
- ambassadress
- evangelist
- courier
- legation
- nuncio
- apostle
- mouthpiece
- deputation
- chargé d'affaires
- detachment
4
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country an agent feeding information about enemy troop movements Synonyms & Similar Words
- spy
- operative
- undercover
- informer
- emissary
- secret agent
- undercover agent
- mole
- asset
- intelligencer
- courier
- counterspy
- spook
- double agent
- sleeper
- infiltrator
- spymaster
- superspy
- stool pigeon