agencia
nounCEFR B2
What does “agencia” mean in English?
1.agency — an organisation acting on behalf of others or providing a specialised service
agency — an organisation acting on behalf of others or providing a specialised service (agencia de noticias/publicidad/viajes/cooperación; agencia inmobiliaria); also human agency in academic contexts
2.agency
agency (social theory) — the capacity of an individual or group to act independently and make free choices; contrasted with structure (agencia personal; agencia y estructura)
Example sentences
La agencia de noticias publicó el comunicado antes de que los medios nacionales lo hubieran verificado.
The news agency published the statement before national media had verified it.
La teoría sociológica debate si los individuos tienen verdadera agencia en un contexto de estructuras sociales dominantes.
Sociological theory debates whether individuals have true agency within a context of dominant social structures.
How to use it
La agencia (noun, feminine) means 'agency' — an organisation that acts on behalf of others or provides a specialised service. Core B2 collocations: agencia de noticias/publicidad/viajes/cooperación; agencia inmobiliaria; agencia gubernamental. Also used in philosophy/social sciences for human agency: la agencia individual (capacity to act). Don't confuse with delegación (regional office) or empresa (business in general).
Common mistake
Don't use *agencia for 'agency' in the abstract philosophical sense without context — in everyday Spanish agencia almost always means an organisation. 'Travel agency' = agencia de viajes (not *agencia de turismo). Note: agencia real estate = agencia inmobiliaria, not *agencia de propiedades.