What does "agentic" mean?
That behaves like an agent: able to express or expressing agency or control on one's own behalf or on the behalf of another.
Agentic
/eɪˈd͡ʒɛn.tɪk/ adj
adj ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That behaves like an agent: able to express or expressing agency or control on one's own behalf or on the behalf of another.
- Grammar: agentic is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: agential action, personal agency, social actor.
- Usage evidence: From the perspective of the previous chapter, to change from a patient to an agent is to adopt or elaborate an agentic plot that the person lives (Howard 1989).
How to use "agentic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "agentic" 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 "agentic" 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 "agentic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "agentic" 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 "agentic" is acting as adj 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 "agential action" 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 "agentic", 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
Adjective
- 1 That behaves like an agent: able to express or expressing agency or control on one's own behalf or on the behalf of another.
"From the perspective of the previous chapter, to change from a patient to an agent is to adopt or elaborate an agentic plot that the person lives (Howard 1989)."
- 2 That obeys authority (introduced in Milgram's theory). broadly
"Most individuals can be easily triggered to enter, and be comfortable in the agentic state."
- 3 Having to do with performance, or achieving status.
"If helping is a variation on the more general agentic theme of self-assertion and display, one might expect that power motivation would predict other forms of agentic striving in friendship experiences."
- 4 Having agency; able to make independent decisions in pursuit of a goal.
"Billy was agentic in his learning and didn't only do what the teacher told him."
Synonyms
All synonyms agential actionpersonal agencysocial actor
Example
"From the perspective of the previous chapter, to change from a patient to an agent is to adopt or elaborate an agentic plot that the person lives (Howard 1989)."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "agentic"?
Common synonyms include: agential action, personal agency, social actor.
How do you use "agentic" in a sentence?
From the perspective of the previous chapter, to change from a patient to an agent is to adopt or elaborate an agentic plot that the person lives (Howard 1989).
How do you pronounce "agentic"?
Pronounced /eɪˈd͡ʒɛn.tɪk/.
Etymology
From agent + -ic.