agent en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Latin agēnsder. English agent From Latin agēns, present active participle of agere (“to drive, lead, conduct, manage, perform, do”).
Meanings
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One who exerts power, or has the power to act.
Seeing we are so wonderfully endowed with priceless gifts by our Heavenly Father, will he not require usury at our hands? He will. But he has made us agents to ourselves, which makes us responsible for the way in which we use the talents he has given us, for the manner we expend the gold and silver, the wheat and fine flour, the cattle upon a thousand hills, and the wine and oil, for they all belong to Him
1862, Brigham Young, “Call for Teams to Go to the Frontiers, etc.”, in Journal of Discourses, volume 9:
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One who acts for, or in the place of, another (the principal), by that person's authority; someone entrusted to act on behalf of or in behalf of another, such as to transact business for them.
He worked as an agent for the government.
Having a good buyer’s agent also means having someone who is knowledgeable about the local real estate market and who has the skills and competence to negotiate with the seller’s agent on your behalf.
2024 April 22, Jeanne Sahadi, “What a buyer’s agent will do for you when you’re looking for a new home”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 18 Jan 2025:I see in him [Moby Dick] outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him.
1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 36, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
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A person who looks for work for another person and brokers a deal between the hiree and hirer.
Ronald Koeman has agreed a deal with Everton to become their new manager, his agent has reportedly told Dutch media. The agent Rob Jansen said, according to the popular Voetbal International website, that it was now down to Southampton and Everton to agree a compensation package for the Dutchman, who has a year remaining on his contract at St Mary’s.
2016 June 4, Press Association, “Ronald Koeman’s agent says Dutchman has agreed terms with Everton”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2021:
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Someone who works for an intelligence agency: whether an officer or employee thereof or anyone else who agrees to help their efforts (for ideology, for money, as blackmailee, or otherwise).
@Gary, are you a PAP agent? ... =) trying to incite rebellion and revolution on this site so that the govt will have an excuse to take down this site?
Paragraph 4, Public Prosecutor v Yue Mun Yew Gary [2012] SGHC 188
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An active power or cause or substance; something (e.g. biological, chemical, thermal, etc.) that has the power to produce an effect.
Agents are means-rational insofar as they effectively pursue the goals they currently have—but means-rationality (even under a narrow-scope interpretation) does not prohibit agents from changing their goals or dropping them entirely.
2025 June 13, Rhys Southan, Helena Ward, Jen Semler, “A timing problem for instrumental convergence”, in Philosophical Studies, Springer Science+Business Media, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC:So far seems to be the work of chemistry alone; at least we have no right to conclude that any other agent interferes; since hay, when it happens to imbibe moisture, exhibits nearly the same processes."
1807, James Edward Smith, chapter 11, in An introduction to physiological and systematical botany:
- In the client-server model, the part of the system that performs information preparation and exchange on behalf of a client or server. Especially in the phrase “intelligent agent” it implies some kind of autonomous process which can communicate with other agents to perform some collective task on behalf of one or more humans.
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The participant of a situation that carries out the action in this situation, e.g. "the boy" in the sentences "The boy kicked the ball" and "The ball was kicked by the boy".
A verb is typically described as active when its subject is the agent or actor. By contrast, a verb is said to be passive when the subject does not perform the action, but is the patient, target, or undergoer of the action.
2009, Tarsee Li, The Verbal System of the Aramaic of Daniel: An Explanation in the Context of Grammaticalization, page 58:Near-synonym: doer
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A cheat who is assisted by dishonest casino staff.
Nevada casinos are fleeced out of millions of dollars yearly by agents (cheats acting as players) in collusion with crooked Black Jack dealers and pit bosses.
1978, John Scarne, Scarne's guide to casino gambling, page 108:
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(US) A law enforcement officer tasked with enforcing a specific field of law.
In the Atlanta suburb of Lilburn, ICE agents arrested Walter Valladares, a 53-year-old undocumented immigrant from Honduras, according to family members who spoke with CNN.
2025 January 26, Priscilla Alvarez, Rosa Flores, “Trump administration launches nationwide immigration enforcement blitz”, in CNN, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2025:The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officers are just simply referred to as "ATF agents".
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(US, capitalized, usually) A respectful term of address for an agent, especially a law enforcement agent.
Steve Haines (Robert Bogue): Agent Sanchez! Apprehend these suspects!
2013, Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto V, scene: Standoff between Michael de Santa and Steve Haines, level/area: The Wrap Up:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| agents | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
patient (antonym(s) of “grammar”) · recipient (antonym(s) of “grammar”) · patient · undergoer (antonym(s) of “grammar”)
Coordinates
rheme · object · theme · subject
Deriveds
surfactant · agent of influence · sleeper agent · counting agent · clearing agent · double agent · drying agent · marriage agent · real estate agent · bargain agent · intelligence agent · bulking agent · agent general · intelligent agent · contract agent · underagent · interagent · special agent · bleaching agent · coagent · wetting agent · antimicrobial agent · contrast agent · nettle agent · clarifying agent · moral agent · agentlike · agent-general · secret agent · flour treatment agent · gelling agent · alpha-adrenergic blocking agent · monoagent · Agent Orange · foreign agent · agent participle · whitening agent · transfer agent · ticket agent · catalytic agent · triple agent · oxidizing agent · agenting · agentship · agentry · agential · principal-agent problem · glazing agent · raising agent · anti-caking agent · parliamentary agent · innocent agent · flavoring · agentspace · sales agent · road agent · superagent · service agent · change agent · chemical agent · newsagent · law agent · flavouring agent · nanoagent · multiagent · agenthood · agented · purchasing agent · agentless · counteragent · teachable agent · agentic · cyberagent · oxidising agent · bioagent · chemoagent · shipping agent · infeasible agent · house agent · colour retention agent · land agent · agentese · firming agent · foaming agent · road-agent · immunoagent · multi-agent system · baggage agent · estate agent · lifting agent · cleaning agent · processing agent · agentess · voluntary agent · infectious agent · nonagent · count agent · mail user agent · reducing agent · free agent · user agent · blowing agent · crown agent · anticaking agent · casting agent · Indian agent · agent noun · antibacterial agent · chelating agent · agent-oriented · structuring agent · leavening agent · sourcing agent · shopping agent · improving agent · travel agent · blister agent · select agent · thickening agent · access agent · insurance agent · press agent · nerve agent · enforcement agent · coating agent · subagent · binding agent · bonding agent · book agent · agenticity · dry agent · agentive
Relateds
Synonyms
manager (person who looks for work for another person) · rep (person who looks for work for another person) · performer · representative (person who looks for work for another person) · actor · doer
Translations (193)
fr espion (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · be аге́нтка (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · fi vaikuttaja (active power or cause) · ca agent (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · pl agentka (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · ca agent (active power or cause) · th ตัวแทน (law: one who acts in place of another) · fr agent (one who exerts power) · enm procutour (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru де́йствующая си́ла (active power or cause) · ast axente (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr fail (one who exerts power) · fi agentti (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · tl kinagawa (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi asiamies (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · es agente (active power or cause) · hu hírszerző (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · pt agente (active power or cause) · mi kaiwhakarite (one who exerts power) · el αντιπρόσωπος (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg агент (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · bg де́йстваща си́ла (active power or cause) · sv agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · sv agent (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · id agen (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · fr complément d'agent (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · ru аге́нтка (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · ko 대리인 (law: one who acts in place of another) · gd neach-ionaid (one who exerts power) · ms agen (law: one who acts in place of another) · fr agent (active power or cause) · fi asioitsija (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · ru исполни́тель (one who exerts power) · gl axente (active power or cause) · pl plenipotent (law: one who acts in place of another) · sv agent (active power or cause) · nb agent (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · mi kaikawe (one who exerts power) · fi asioitsija (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · hu titkosügynök (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · it agente (one who exerts power) · ru шпио́н (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · tr kılıcı (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · pl pełnomocnik (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru сре́дство (active power or cause) · lv aģents (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi toimija (one who exerts power) · ru аге́нтка (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi agentti (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · hu ágensprogram (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · el παράγοντας (active power or cause) · tl ahente (law: one who acts in place of another) · yi אַגענטקע (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · ms agen (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · bg представи́тел (law: one who acts in place of another) · ota وكیل (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru шпио́нка (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · sw wakala (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru реаге́нт (active power or cause) · la actor (one who exerts power) · es agente (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · cs zástupce (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu szer (active power or cause) · mi māngai (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg агент (person who looks for work for another person) · ast axente (active power or cause) · fr agent (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · fi tekijä (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · pt agente (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · uk аге́нт (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi asiamies (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · pl agent (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · nl agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru посре́дница (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi toimija (active power or cause) · lv pārstāvis (law: one who acts in place of another) · uk посере́дник (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr yapıcı (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · fi agentti (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · id agen (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · nl handelend persoon (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · fi asioitsija (law: one who acts in place of another) · la actor (active power or cause) · eo peranto (law: one who acts in place of another) · fi agentti (law: one who acts in place of another) · tl kinabisa (active power or cause) · gl axente (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · cmn 主事 (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · tr fail (active power or cause) · enm procuratour (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg аге́нт (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr fail (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · cs agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · ota ایلچی (law: one who acts in place of another) · eo agento (law: one who acts in place of another) · de Agentin (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr vekil (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · cmn 代理人 (law: one who acts in place of another) · be аге́нт (law: one who acts in place of another) · he סוכנת (law: one who acts in place of another) · cs agent (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · it agente (law: one who acts in place of another) · mi kaitaunaki (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg агентка (person who looks for work for another person) · fi taudinaiheuttaja (active power or cause) · ru представи́тельница (law: one who acts in place of another) · cy asiant (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu képviselő (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr temsilci (law: one who acts in place of another) · uk посере́дниця (law: one who acts in place of another) · de Agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · be аге́нт (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · yi אַגענט (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu ügynök (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · el πράκτορας (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · bg упълномощено лице (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg деятел (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · el παράγοντας (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · hu ágens (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · fr agent (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · sv syssloman (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg вършител (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · ru представи́тель (law: one who acts in place of another) · uk аге́нтка (law: one who acts in place of another) · sv verksamt ämne (active power or cause) · hu ügynök (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru фа́ктор (active power or cause) · pl agent (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · nl bewerker (active power or cause) · ru аге́нт (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · ru де́ятель (one who exerts power) · ru реакти́в (active power or cause) · es gendarme (law: one who acts in place of another) · eo agento (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · ca agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · fr agente (law: one who acts in place of another) · la explorator (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · nl tussenpersoon (law: one who acts in place of another) · he סוֹכֵן (law: one who acts in place of another) · tr vekil (law: one who acts in place of another) · nl lasthebber (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru а́генс (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · hu anyag (active power or cause) · el ατζέντης (law: one who acts in place of another) · pl czynnik (active power or cause) · yi אַגענט (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · it agente (active power or cause) · tr aracı (law: one who acts in place of another) · pt agente (law: one who acts in place of another) · bg посре́дник (law: one who acts in place of another) · uk представни́ця (law: one who acts in place of another) · es agente (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · ja 代理人 (law: one who acts in place of another) · hi गुप्तचर (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · pl agens (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · crh agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · twf oxèntiʼína (one who exerts power) · fi asiamies (law: one who acts in place of another) · fr agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru аге́нт (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · hu hatóanyag (active power or cause) · kix āchíkíuhjǖnô (law: one who acts in place of another) · he סוכנת (one who exerts power) · tr acente (law: one who acts in place of another) · la procurator (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu kém (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · el ουσία (active power or cause) · nl vertegenwoordiger (law: one who acts in place of another) · ru посре́дник (law: one who acts in place of another) · id agen (law: one who acts in place of another) · gl axente (law: one who acts in place of another) · nb agent (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu meghatalmazott (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu megbízott (law: one who acts in place of another) · sv agent (computing: part of the system that performs action on behalf of a client or server) · be аге́нтка (law: one who acts in place of another) · uk представни́к (law: one who acts in place of another) · de Agens (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · ar فَاعِل (one who exerts power) · el ποιητικό αίτιο (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · es agente (law: one who acts in place of another) · nb spion (someone who works for an intelligence agency) · hu cselekvő (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · de Wirkstoff (active power or cause) · pl środek (active power or cause) · he סוֹכֵן (one who exerts power) · ru аге́нт (law: one who acts in place of another) · nl agent (one who exerts power) · pt agente (one who exerts power) · fi vaikuttava aine (active power or cause) · vi người đại lý (law: one who acts in place of another) · hu ágens (grammar: performer of the action in a sentence) · da agent (law: one who acts in place of another)