For Individuals|For Teachers
Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free
Log in

Looking up...

Words

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • My Dictionary

Languages

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German

Features

  • Words of the Year
  • My Collections List
  • Reviews
  • Learning Resources
  • Community Collections

Learn

  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.

agent

/ˈeɪdʒənt/
noun★Intermediate
formal

a person who acts on behalf of another, typically in a professional or official capacity

She works as an insurance agent, helping clients choose policies.

An insurance agent assists customers in selecting insurance plans.

💡

Agents often work in fields like real estate, insurance, or law.

🏥Medicine
technical

a substance that causes a specific effect, often in chemistry or biology

The new cancer drug acts as a powerful anti-tumor agent.

In medicine, an agent is a substance that produces a specific biological effect.

💡

In scientific contexts, 'agent' refers to a chemical or biological substance.

💻Technology
technical

a software program or system that performs automated tasks

The chatbot is an AI agent designed to handle customer inquiries.

In technology, an agent is a program that performs tasks autonomously.

💡

AI agents are increasingly used in customer service and automation.

Collocations

real estate agenta professional who helps people buy or sell propertysecret agenta spy or undercover operativeactive agenta substance or program that is currently functioning

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

double agentphrase
a spy who works for two opposing sides
free agentphrase
a person not bound by a contract, free to choose

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'agent' varies by context—ensure you understand whether it refers to a person, a substance, or a program.

⚡Gold Rule

Professional vs. Technical Use

In professional contexts, 'agent' often refers to a human representative, while in technical fields, it can refer to software or chemicals.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'agens', present participle of 'agere' (to do or act).

📝Usage Notes

The term 'agent' is versatile and can refer to both human representatives and non-human entities that act on behalf of others.

Word Breakdown

ag
to act or do
root
+
-ent
one who
suffix
English Dictionary

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →