Agency refers to a business or organization that provides a service, or to the capacity of individuals to act with intention. In linguistics or social science contexts, it can denote the power or capacity to influence events. In everyday use, it often means an organization that represents or acts on behalf of others. (2–4 sentences, concise and precise.)
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- You may over-articulate the middle /dʒə/ sequence, turning /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ into something like /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ with a heavy, prolonged /dʒ/; fix by shortening the /dʒ/ release and letting the schwa be quick and neutral. - Another error is pronouncing /ɪ/ or /i/ in the second syllable rather than a reduced /ə/; aim for a light, unstressed /ə/ so it doesn’t pull stress from the first syllable. - Finally, dropping the final /i/ as /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ or turning /si/ into /s/ or /si:/ can reduce clarity; keep a clean /si/ with a subtle but audible /i/.
- US: maintain a rhotic feel in connected speech; ensure /eɪ/ is a clear diphthong, ending with a tighter jaw, to highlight the first syllable. - UK: non-rhotic; let /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ glide more toward schwa in the second syllable, keeping final /si/ crisp and unvoiced until the end. - AU: lean toward a slightly lower first vowel and a softer /ə/ in the middle; final /si/ remains crisp, with less /ɪ/ sound. IPA references: /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/.
"- She started a marketing agency to help small businesses grow."
"- The travel agency booked our entire itinerary in one afternoon."
"- Workers fought for more agency in decision-making processes."
"- The agency announced new safety guidelines for clients and staff."
Agency comes from the Old French agent, from Latin actus meaning ‘done, a doing’ and agere meaning ‘to act’. The modern sense expanded from a person or entity that acts on behalf of others to an organization that acts to provide services or represent interests. The spelling and pronunciation stabilized in English in the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with other -cy nouns such as agency, efficiency, etc. The word’s core idea — performing actions on behalf of someone else — traces its roots to the concept of ‘acting’ or ‘doing’ on behalf of another, which is reflected in modern legal, commercial, and social contexts. First known use in English appears in the 15th century with senses related to a person who acts for another, progressing to denote organizations that provide services in commerce and representation by the 18th century.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "agency" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "agency" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "agency" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "agency"
-ncy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Agency is pronounced /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ in US, UK, and AU. Put primary stress on the first syllable: EIGH-jən-see. Start with a long A as in 'day', then the /dʒ/ blend like 'judge', followed by an unstressed schwa in the middle syllable, and end with /si/ as in 'see'. For careful enunciation, hold the /ə/ lightly and avoid conflating with 'agency' as two syllables only. IPA: US /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/; UK /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/; AU /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress on the second syllable (a-JEN-cy) and turning the /dʒ/ into a plain /j/ or /dʒ/ cluster blending too loosely. Avoid pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /i/; keep it as a reduced schwa /ə/. Also, ensure the final /si/ isn’t shortened to /s/ or devoiced to /siː/; keep a crisp final /si/. Practice by isolating /ˈeɪ/ and /dʒ/ together before integrating the rest.
In all three, primary stress on /ˈeɪ/ remains. US often retains a slightly sharper /ɡ/ release in /dʒən/; UK vowels can be a touch tighter in /ə/ and a crisper /s/ ending; AU tends toward a more centralized /ə/ and slightly rounded vowels in /eɪ/. The rhotics are generally non-rhotic in UK and AU; US tends to a rhotic influence in connected speech, but with /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ overall. IPA references: US /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/, UK /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/, AU /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /dʒ/ after a long glide /eɪ/ and the reduction of the middle vowel /ə/ while keeping a clean final /si/. The blend /dʒən/ requires precise timing: avoid a harsh /dʒ/ followed by an overt /ə/; instead let /ə/ be light and quick. Also, the sequence ends with /si/; ensure you don’t assimilate into /ʃənsi/ or /zɛnsi/ in fast speech.
No—primary stress remains on the first syllable /ˈeɪ/ in standard American, British, and Australian English. A secondary, weaker stress is not typical in the two-syllable: three-syllable pattern here; stress on the first syllable helps clarity and speed in speech. When saying quickly in phrases, you may reduce the second syllable but keep main stress on the first.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "agency"!
- Shadowing: listen to native speakers say /ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ for 2–3 minutes, then imitate in real-time, mirroring rhythm and intonation. - Minimal pairs: compare “agency” with “agency’s” (different possession) or “agency” with “agencying” for grip on stress; practice keeping first syllable strong. - Rhythm: practice 3-beat flow: A-then-ger, with 1-2-2 stress pattern across three syllables. - Stress: emphasize /ˈeɪ/; practice holding the first vowel slightly longer before the /dʒ/ onset. - Recording: record yourself saying the word in isolation, then in phrases like “advertising agency” to observe link and stress. - Context sentences: “The agency released a new contract,” “She works at a talent agency,” “An agency can influence policy.”
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