(agencies)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
An ~ is a business which provides a service on behalf of other businesses. (BUSINESS)
We had to hire maids through an ~.
N-COUNT: oft supp N
see also advertising ~ , employment ~ , press ~ , travel ~
2.
An ~ is a government organization responsible for a certain area of administration.
...the government ~ which monitors health and safety at work in Britain...
N-COUNT: oft supp N