1. (

• agency ,
• federal_agency ,
• government_agency ,
• bureau ,
• office ,
• authority

) an administrative unit of government; "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority" ;

2. (

• agency ,

) a business or organization that provides a particular service, especially the mediation of transactions between two parties ;

3. (

• agency ,

) the state of being in action or exerting power; "the agency of providence"; "she has free agency" ;

4. (

• representation ,
• delegacy ,
• agency

) the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent ;

5. (

• means ,
• agency ,
• way ,

) thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end; "a means of control"; "an example is the best agency of instruction"; "the true way to success" ;