What does "agent" mean?
One who exerts power, or has the power to act.
Agent
/ˈeɪ.d͡ʒənt/ name, noun
name, noun ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who exerts power, or has the power to act.
- Grammar: agent is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: acid, acidity, acolyte, activator.
- Useful contrasts: benign, inert, object during discussion.
- Usage evidence: In case of an emergency, get in touch with my agent.
How to use "agent"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "agent" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "agent" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "agent" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "agent" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "agent" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acid" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "agent", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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"
- 2 the semantic role of the animate entity that instigates or causes the happening denoted by the verb in the clause wordnet
- 3 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."
- 4 an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect wordnet
- 5 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."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 a businessman who buys or sells for another in exchange for a commission wordnet
- 7 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?"
- 8 a representative who acts on behalf of other persons or organizations wordnet
- 9 An active power or cause or substance; something (e.g. biological, chemical, thermal, etc.) that has the power to produce an effect.
"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.""
- 10 any agent or representative of a federal agency or bureau wordnet
- 11 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.
- 12 a substance that exerts some force or effect wordnet
- 13 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".
"Near-synonym: doer"
- 14 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."
- 15 A law enforcement officer tasked with enforcing a specific field of law. US
"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officers are just simply referred to as "ATF agents"."
- 16 A respectful term of address for an agent, especially a non-police law enforcement agent. US, capitalized, usually
"Steve Haines (Robert Bogue): Agent Sanchez! Apprehend these suspects!"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"In case of an emergency, get in touch with my agent."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "agent"?
Common synonyms include: acid, acidity, acolyte, activator, actor, actor.
How do you use "agent" in a sentence?
In case of an emergency, get in touch with my agent.
How do you pronounce "agent"?
Pronounced /ˈeɪ.d͡ʒənt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin agēns, present active participle of agere (“to drive, lead, conduct, manage, perform, do”).
Etymology 2
Occupational surname, from agent.