agency
Other forms: agencies
An agency usually provides a service, like an aid organization or a government bureau. If you're looking for a job, an employment agency might be able to help.
The Latin word agere means "to do or manage," and it's a fitting ancestor for agency, a word that means an institution that manages or specializes in something. As a secret agent, you might work for the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency. I hope you look good in black. The noun agency also refers to the power or ability to do something, as in the William McKinley quote, "War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace has failed.”
Definitions of agency
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the state of being in action or exerting power“the agency of providence”“she has free agency”types:Frankensteinan agency that escapes control and destroys its creatortype of:
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the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agentsynonyms: delegacy, representationtypes:free agency(sports) the state of a professional athlete who is free to negotiate a contract to play for any teamlegal representationpersonal representation that has legal statusvirusa harmful or corrupting agencytype of:statethe way something is with respect to its main attributes
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a business that provides a specialized servicetypes:ad agency, advertising agencyan agency that designs advertisement to call public attention to its clientscredit bureaua private firm that maintains consumer credit data files and provides credit information to authorized users for a feedetective agencyan agency that makes inquiries for its clientsemployment agency, employment officean agency that finds people to fill particular jobs or finds jobs for unemployed peoplecommercial agency, mercantile agencyan organization that provides businesses with credit ratings of other firmsnews agency, news organisation, news organization, press agency, press association, wire servicean agency to collects news reports for newspapers and distributes it electronicallyservice agency, service bureau, service firma business that makes its facilities available to others for a fee; achieves economy of scaletravel agencyan agency that arranges personal traveltransfer agentan agency (usually a bank) that is appointed by a corporation to keep records of its stock and bond owners and to resolve problems about certificatessyndicatea news agency that sells features or articles or photographs etc. to newspapers for simultaneous publicationtype of:business, business concern, business organisation, business organization, concerna commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
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an administrative unit of government“the Central Intelligence Agency”synonyms: authority, bureau, federal agency, government agency, officeexamples:Air Force Research Laboratorya United States Air Force defense laboratory responsible for discovering and developing and integrating fighting technologies for aerospace forcesArmy High Performance Computing Research Centera United States defense laboratory to conduct research in high-performance computing for defense technology applications; a partnership of government and university and industryNaval Research Laboratorythe United States Navy's defense laboratory that conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplinesUnited States Army Criminal Investigation Laboratorya defense laboratory of the Criminal Investigation Command; the United States Army's primary forensic laboratory in support of criminal intelligencetypes:executive agencyan agency of the executive branch of governmentFDA, Food and Drug Administrationa federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related productsCDC, Center for Disease Control and Preventiona federal agency in the Department of Health and Human Services; located in Atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases)CTC, Counterterrorist Centeran agency that helps the Director of Central Intelligence coordinate counterterrorist efforts in order to preempt and disrupt and defeat terrorist activities at the earliest possible stageNPC, Nonproliferation Centeran agency that serves as the focal point for all Intelligence Community activities related to nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their missile delivery systemsBureau of the Census, Census Bureauthe bureau of the Commerce Department responsible for taking the census; provides demographic information and analyses about the population of the United StatesNOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationan agency in the Department of Commerce that maps the oceans and conserves their living resources; predicts changes to the earth's environment; provides weather reports and forecasts floods and hurricanes and other natural disasters related to weatherNCDC, National Climatic Data Centerthe part of NOAA that maintains the world's largest active archive of weather dataNational Weather Servicethe federal agency in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is responsible for weather forecast and preparation of weather mapsTechnology Administrationan agency in the Department of Commerce that works with United States industries to promote competitiveness and maximize the impact of technology on economic growthNIST, National Institute of Standards and Technologyan agency in the Technology Administration that makes measurements and sets standards as needed by industry or government programsNTIS, National Technical Information Servicean agency in the Technology Administration that is a primary resource for government-funded scientific and technical and engineering and business related informationDARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencythe central research and development organization for the United States Department of Defense; responsible for developing new surveillance technologies since 9/11Department of Defense Laboratory System, LABLINKa defense laboratory that provides essential services in fundamental science for national security and environmental protection and provides technologies that contribute to industrial competitivenessDOEI, Department of Energy Intelligencean agency that collects political and economic and technical information about energy matters and makes the Department of Energy's technical and analytical expertise available to other members of the Intelligence CommunityPHS, United States Public Health Servicean agency that serves as the office of Surgeon General; includes agencies whose mission is to improve the public healthNIH, National Institutes of Healthan agency in the Department of Health and Human Services whose mission is to employ science in the pursuit of knowledge to improve human health; is the principal biomedical research agency of the federal governmentBJA, Bureau of Justice Assistancethe bureau in the Department of Justice that assists local criminal justice systems to reduce or prevent crime and violence and drug abuseBJS, Bureau of Justice Statisticsthe agency in the Department of Justice that is the primary source of criminal justice statistics for federal and local policy makersINS, Immigration and Naturalization Servicean agency in the Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the United StatesUS Border Patrol, United States Border Patrolthe mobile law enforcement arm of the Immigration and Naturalization Service that detects and prevents illegal entry of aliens into the United StatesBureau of Diplomatic Security, DSthe bureau in the State Department that is responsible for the security of diplomats and embassies overseasForeign Servicethe part of the State Department that supplies diplomats for the United States embassies and consulates around the worldBureau of Intelligence and Research, INRan agency that is the primary source in the State Department for interpretive analyses of global developments and focal point for policy issues and activities of the Intelligence CommunityFWS, US Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Servicean agency in the Department of the Interior that conserves and protects fish and wildlife and their habitats; assesses the environmental impact of pesticides and nuclear power site and hydroelectric dams and thermal pollutionNational Park Servicean agency of the Interior Department responsible for the national parksFinancial Management Servicethe federal agency in the Treasury Department that manages the government's disbursement and collection systems and provides central accounting and financial reportingOIS, Office of Intelligence Supportagency that oversees the intelligence relationships of the Treasury's offices and bureaus and provides a link between the Intelligence Community and officials responsible for international economic policyComptroller of the Currencythe agency of the Treasury Department responsible for controlling the currencyBureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCBthe agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffsBureau of Engraving and Printingthe agency of the Treasury Department that produces currencyFAA, Federal Aviation Agencyan agency in the Department of Transportation that is responsible for the safety of civilian aviationTSA, Transportation Security Administrationan agency established in 2001 to safeguard United States transportation systems and insure safe air travelGAO, Government Accounting Office, United States Government Accounting Officean independent nonpartisan federal agency that acts as the investigative arm of Congress making the executive branch accountable to Congress and the government accountable to citizens of the United StatesNavy, US Navy, USN, United States Navythe navy of the United States of America; the agency that maintains and trains and equips combat-ready naval forcesU. S. Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, United States Coast Guardan agency of the Department of Transportation responsible for patrolling shores and facilitating nautical commerceNAWCWPNS, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Divisionthe principal agency of the United States Navy for research and development for air warfare and missile weapon systemsNSW, Naval Special Warfarethe agency that provides units to conduct unconventional and counter-guerilla warfareNSWC, Naval Surface Warfare Centerthe agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for all aspects of surface warfareNUWC, Naval Underwater Warfare Centerthe agency that provides scientific and engineering and technical support for submarine and undersea warfare systemsONI, Office of Naval Intelligencethe military intelligence agency that provides for the intelligence and counterintelligence and investigative and security requirements of the United States NavyMCIA, Marine Corps Intelligence Activityan agency of the United States Marine Corps that provides responsive and broad intelligence support for the worldwide Marine Corps organizationAir Force, U. S. Air Force, US Air Force, USAF, United States Air Forcethe airforce of the United States of America; the agency that defends the United States through control and exploitation of air and spaceAFISR, Air Force ISR, Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissancean agency focused on ensuring that the United States military attains information superiority; operates worldwide ground sites and an array of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance platformsindependent agencyan agency of the United States government that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departmentsARDA, Advanced Research and Development Activityan agency of the Intelligence Community that conducts advanced research and development related to information technologyDefense Logistics Agencya logistics combat support agency in the Department of Defense; provides worldwide support for military missionsDRMS, Defense Reutilization and Marketing Servicethe organization in the Defense Logistics Agency that inventories and evaluates and sells reusable United States government surplusDTIC, Defense Technical Information Centerthe agency in the Department of Defense that provides scientific and technical information to federal agencies and their contractorslaw enforcement agencyan agency responsible for insuring obedience to the lawsOSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Administrationa government agency in the Department of Labor to maintain a safe and healthy work environmentorgana government agency or instrument devoted to the performance of some specific functionPatent Office, Patent and Trademark Office Databasethe government bureau in the Department of Commerce that keeps a record of patents and trademarks and grants new onesGPO, Government Printing Office, US Government Printing Office, United States Government Printing Officean agency of the legislative branch that provides printing and binding services for Congress and the departments and establishments of the federal governmentNGB, National Guard Bureauthe agency that administers the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard; provides liaison between the Army and the Air Force and various National Guard unitsArmy, U. S. Army, US Army, USA, United States Armythe army of the United States of America; the agency that organizes and trains soldiers for land warfareAI, Army Intelligencean agency of the United States Army responsible for providing timely and relevant and accurate and synchronized intelligence to tactical and operational and strategic level commandersBMDO, Ballistic Missile Defense Organizationan agency in the Department of Defense that is responsible for making ballistic missile defense a realityDISA, Defense Information Systems Agencya combat support agency in the Department of Defense responsible for developing and operating and supporting information systems to serve the needs of the President and the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of StaffNGA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencya combat support agency that provides geographic intelligence in support of national securityCCRC, Casualty Care Research Centeran agency in the Department of Defense that is a national center for research on all aspects of injury control and casualty careFHA, Federal Housing Administrationthe federal agency in the Department of Housing and Urban Development that insures residential mortgageslocal authorityan administrative unit of local governmentcustomsthe government agency that oversees and collects duties on imported goodsAEC, Atomic Energy Commissiona former executive agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United StatesNRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commissionan independent federal agency created in 1974 to license and regulate nuclear power plantsEPA, Environmental Protection Agencyan independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environmentFEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agencyan independent agency of the United States government that provides a single point of accountability for all federal emergency preparedness and mitigation and response activitiesCouncil of Economic Advisorsan executive agency responsible for providing economic advice to the PresidentCIA, Central Intelligence Agencyan independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest; headed by the Director of Central Intelligence under the supervision of the President and National Security CouncilICC, Interstate Commerce Commissiona former independent federal agency that supervised and set rates for carriers that transported goods and people between states; was terminated in 1995NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administrationan independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflightNARA, National Archives and Records Administrationthe independent agency that oversees management of federal government records including presidential libraries and historic collectionsNLRB, National Labor Relations Boardan independent agency of the United States government charged with mediating disputes between management and labor unionsNSF, National Science Foundationan independent agency of the federal government responsible for the promotion of progress in science and engineering by supporting programs in research and educationPostal Rate Commissionan independent federal agency that recommends changes in postal ratesUS Postal Service, USPS, United States Postal Servicean independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United StatesUS Postal Inspection Service, United States Postal Inspection Servicethe primary law enforcement arm of the United States Postal ServiceNSC, National Security Councila committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security; supervises the Central Intelligence AgencyCouncil on Environmental Policythe executive agency that advises the President on protecting the environmentJoint Chiefs, Joint Chiefs of Staffthe executive agency that advises the President on military questions; composed of the chiefs of the United States Army and the United States Navy and the United States Air Force and the commandant of the United States Marine CorpsOMB, Office of Management and Budgetthe executive agency that advises the President on the federal budgetUS Trade Representative, United States Trade Representativethe executive agency that administers the President's policies on international tradeFCC, Federal Communications Commissionan independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satelliteSSA, Social Security Administrationan independent government agency responsible for the Social Security systemFBI, Federal Bureau of Investigationa federal law enforcement agency that is the principal investigative arm of the Department of JusticeFLETC, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centera center in the Department of that trains law enforcement professionals for more than seventy federal agenciesFinCEN, Financial Crimes Enforcement Networka law enforcement agency of the Treasury Department responsible for establishing and implementing policies to detect money launderingATF, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearmsthe law enforcement and tax collection agency of the Treasury Department that enforces federal laws concerning alcohol and tobacco products and firearms and explosives and arsonCID, Criminal Investigation Commandthe United States Army's principal law enforcement agency responsible for the conduct of criminal investigations for all levels of the Army anywhere in the worldDEA, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Enforcement Agencyfederal agency responsible for enforcing laws and regulations governing narcotics and controlled substances; goal is to immobilize drug trafficking organizationsBoP, Federal Bureau of Prisonsthe law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimesFederal Judiciarythe judiciary of the United States which is responsible for interpreting and enforcing federal lawsNIJ, National Institute of Justicethe law enforcement agency that is the research and development branch of the Department of JusticeMarshals, US Marshals Service, United States Marshals Servicethe United States' oldest federal law enforcement agency is responsible today for protecting the Federal Judiciary and transporting federal prisoners and protecting federal witnesses and managing assets seized from criminals and generally ensuring the effective operation of the federal judicial systemBureau of Customs, Customs Bureau, Customs Service, USCBthe agency of the Treasury Department that enforces import tariffsPO, Post Office, US Post Office, United States Post Officean independent agency of the federal government responsible for mail delivery (and sometimes telecommunications) between individuals and businesses in the United StatesFTC, Federal Trade Commissionan independent agency of the United States federal government that maintains fair and free competition; enforces federal antitrust laws; educates the public about identity theftGSA, General Services Administrationa central management agency that sets Federal policy for Federal procurement and real property management and information resources managementFPS, Federal Protective Servicean agency in the General Services Administration that is a security organization to provide a safe environment where Federal agencies can conduct their businessSBA, Small Business Administrationan independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government contractsSSS, Selective Service, Selective Service Systeman independent federal agency that administers compulsory military serviceSEC, Securities and Exchange Commissionan independent federal agency that oversees the exchange of securities to protect investorstype of:
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how a result is obtained or an end is achieved“an example is the best agency of instruction”types:dintforce or effort; interchangeable with 'means' in the expression 'by means of'escapea means or way of escapingfast tracka rapid means of achieving a goalroada way or means to achieve somethingstepping stoneany means of advancementexpedienta means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical onedesperate measuredesperate actions taken as a means to an endopen sesameany very successful means of achieving a resultsalvationa means of preserving from harm or unpleasantnesstootha means of enforcementvoicea means or agency by which something is expressed or communicatedwingsa means of flight or ascentroyal roadan auspicious way or means to achieve somethingcrutchanything that serves as an expedienttype of:effectuation, implementationthe act of implementing (providing a practical means for accomplishing something); carrying into effect
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