/ ˈeɪdʒənsi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
a business or an organization that provides a particular service especially on behalf of other businesses or organizations :
an advertising / employment agency
You can book at your local travel agency .
international aid agencies caring for refugees
—see also dating agency , news agency , press agency
2.
( especially NAmE ) a government department that provides a particular service :
the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
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IDIOMS
- through the agency of
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin agentia , from agent- doing, from agere .