Agent: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who works on behalf of an organization, often in a business or legal context.

• She is the agent representing our company in the negotiations.
• They hired an agent to manage their real estate transactions.

Refers to someone who works secretly, often in intelligence or espionage operations.

• The organization planted an operative inside the rival company.
• The government has several operatives working undercover.

Used for someone who acts on behalf of another person or organization, typically in formal or official capacities.

• The representative spoke on behalf of the citizens at the council meeting.
• As your representative, I will ensure your concerns are heard.

Describes someone who secretly collects information, often about a government or organization. This term typically has negative connotations.

• He was accused of being a spy for a foreign government.
• The novel follows a spy who infiltrates enemy lines.

Generally used for someone who acts on behalf of another person or group. This can be in various fields such as real estate, sports, law, and entertainment.

• The actor's agent helped him negotiate the new movie contract
• The real estate agent showed us several houses in the area

Often used in financial or real estate sectors where someone arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission.

• We hired a stock broker to manage our investments
• The mortgage broker found us a great loan deal

Typically used to describe someone who speaks, acts, or makes decisions on behalf of an organization, group, or another person. This includes roles in sales, customer service, and politics.

• The customer service representative resolved my issue quickly
• She was elected as a representative for her district

Commonly used in a more informal or sometimes negative way to describe someone who facilitates trades or deals between two parties, often perceived as adding unnecessary cost or complexity.

• Cutting out the middleman saved the company a lot of money
• Sometimes, having a middleman can cause delays in negotiations

Use this word when referring to a person who represents an organization or another person, especially in business or law.

• The real estate agent showed us several properties
• He hired an agent to negotiate his new contract

This word is best used in scientific or metaphorical contexts to describe something that causes an important change to happen quickly.

• The enzyme works as a catalyst in the chemical reaction
• The new policy acted as a catalyst for educational reform

This word is mostly used in scientific contexts, specifically in chemistry, to indicate a substance that takes part and undergoes change during a reaction.

• In the experiment, the reactant combined with the other chemicals to form a new compound
• We measured the amount of reactant before starting the reaction

This word fits when describing someone who helps to resolve disputes between people or groups.

• A mediator was brought in to help the company and the union reach an agreement
• They needed a mediator to settle their differences