agent
agent
Pronunciation
agent
/ˈeɪ.dʒənt/
a-: /eɪ/ (as in "day")
-gent: /dʒənt/ (as in "jug" + "unt")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: agent
Plural Noun: agents
Adjective: agent (less common, but can be used to describe something that acts as an agent)
Verb (transitive): agent (to act as an agent for; to cause something to happen through an agent – very rare in modern usage, more common historically)
Verb (present participle): agenting (very rare)
Verb (past tense/past participle): agented (very rare)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A person or thing that acts or has the power to act to produce a particular effect or result.
Synonyms: force, factor, medium, instrument, catalyst
Antonyms: obstruction, inhibitor, counteragent
A person who represents another person or company, especially in business negotiations or transactions; a representative.
Synonyms: representative, broker, delegate, liaison, proxy, emissary
Antonyms: principal, client (in some contexts, depending on perspective)
A government official, especially one who collects information or performs duties on behalf of a government agency (e.g., a secret agent, an FBI agent).
Synonyms: operative, spy, detective, investigator, officer
Antonyms: civilian, target, suspect
A substance that produces a chemical or physical effect, such as a cleansing agent or a thickening agent.
Synonyms: compound, substance, medium, ingredient
Antonyms: none specific
Adjective
Acting as a means or instrument; having the quality of being an agent.
Synonyms: instrumental, operative, active, effective
Antonyms: passive, ineffectual, inert
Verb (Rare in Modern Use)
(Transitive) To act as an agent for; to manage or conduct through an agent.
Synonyms: represent, broker, negotiate, mediate
Antonyms: manage directly, handle personally
Examples of Use
Books: "The character of James Bond is the quintessential secret agent, always on a mission to save the world from various nefarious plots." (Ian Fleming's Casino Royale)
Newspapers: "The real estate agent worked tirelessly to find the perfect home for the young couple, navigating multiple offers and complex negotiations." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a powerful agent for change in industries ranging from healthcare to finance, automating tasks and providing data-driven insights." (Wired.com)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): "In Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise plays a sports agent who has a moral awakening and decides to prioritize his clients' well-being over sheer profit." (Jerry Maguire, December 1996)
Entertainment Platforms (Television): "On the popular crime drama FBI, special agent Maggie Bell and her team investigate high-stakes cases that threaten national security." (FBI series, CBS, September 2018)
General Public Discourse: "The local community group appointed a new development agent to oversee the revitalization project in the downtown area." (Public meeting minutes)
General Public Discourse: "Many people are concerned about climate change, viewing human activity as the primary agent of global warming." (Environmental activist's speech)
Entertainment Platforms (Music Industry): "After securing a record deal, the band immediately sought out a booking agent to arrange their upcoming tour dates." (Music industry blog)
10 Quotes Using Agent
"If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." (Henry David Thoreau)
"Let every eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent." (William Shakespeare)
"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent." (Steve Jobs)
"I wish to be cremated. One tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract." (Groucho Marx)
"Love is the affinity which links and draws together the elements of the world... Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis." (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)
"Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate than the secret agent." (Sun Tzu)
"States are not moral agents, people are, and can impose moral standards on powerful institutions." (Noam Chomsky)
"Man is not the creature of circumstances, circumstances are the creatures of men. We are free agents, and man is more powerful than matter." (Benjamin Disraeli)
"Because hypocrisy stinks in the nostrils one is likely to rate it as a more powerful agent for destruction than it is." (Rebecca West)
"The press is the hired agent of a monied system, and set up for no other purpose than to tell lies where their interests are involved." (Henry Adams)
Etymology
The word "agent" comes from the Latin word "agens," which means "doing" or "acting." It's the present participle of the verb "agere," meaning "to do, to act, to drive."
The first known use of "agent" in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was around the late 14th century. At that time, it was used to mean "one who acts" or "one who has the power to act." So, right from the beginning, it was associated with causing something to happen or being a force behind an action.
Over time, its meaning expanded to include a person who acts on behalf of another, like a representative, which is a very common meaning today. It also developed the sense of a substance that produces an effect, like a chemical agent. But at its core, "agent" has always been about something or someone that causes an action or an effect.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Agent
Secret agent: A spy or undercover operative.
Double agent: A spy who pretends to serve one government but in fact serves another.
Free agent: An individual who is not bound by contract to a specific employer or organization and can choose where to work. (Common in sports.)
Real estate agent: A person who sells and rents out buildings and land on behalf of clients.
Travel agent: A person whose job is to make arrangements for people wanting to travel.
Literary agent: A person who represents writers and their works to publishers.
Booking agent: A person who arranges performances or appearances for entertainers.
Agent provocateur: A person who induces others to commit illegal acts in order to expose or incriminate them.
Change agent: A person or thing that encourages or brings about change.
Moral agent: A being who is capable of acting with reference to right and wrong.
Sleeping agent: An agent who is inactive for a long period, waiting to be activated for a mission.
The invisible hand (of the market): While not using "agent," this idiom uses a synonym to describe an unseen force or factor (an agent) that guides the economy.
A powerful force at play: Similar to "invisible hand," this implies an influential agent or factor.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of agent from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
