Agent is a monosyllabic or near-monosyallabic noun or verb meaning a person who acts on behalf of another or a representative. In professional contexts it often denotes a go-between or intermediary, and in espionage or technology it can imply a specific operator or actor. The term carries formal and bureaucratic connotations, with everyday use also indicating a representative or employee in a service capacity.
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"The travel agent arranged our flights and hotel."
"An undercover agent operates discreetly to gather information."
"The software agent automates routine tasks on your computer."
"She was hired as a talent agent to manage his appearances."
Agent derives from Old French agent, agentz, from Late Latin agēns, agent-, present participle of agere ‘to drive, lead, act.’ The Latin root act- means ‘to do, to drive.’ The term entered English in the medieval period via legal and administrative usage to denote a person authorized to act on another’s behalf. Over time, its sense broadened from a legally empowered agent to any representative, emissary, or intermediary in commerce, diplomacy, law, and espionage. In the modern era, agent commonly refers to a person who acts for a party in business (talent agent, real estate agent), professions (travel agent), or specialized roles (secret agent). The word’s semantic field expanded with technology and software, where an “agent” can be an autonomous entity performing tasks. First known uses in English appear in the 14th-15th centuries in legal and administrative texts, with the sense of “one who acts for another” crystallizing in the 16th to 18th centuries as bureaucracy and commerce proliferated.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "agent" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "agent" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "agent"
-ent sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce it as /ˈeɪ.dʒənt/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with the long A /eɪ/ as in “face,” then move to /dʒ/ like the “j” in “judge,” followed by a schwa /ə/ and final /nt/. Think: “A-jent” with a crisp /dʒ/ and a quick, soft ending. You can reference audio examples on standard dictionaries for listening practice.
Common errors include flattening the /eɪ/ diphthong to a short /e/ or /ɛ/ and over-articulating the /dʒ/ leading to /dʒe/ or /ʒ/ confusion. Another frequent slip is delaying the final /t/, producing /ˈeɪ.dʒənt/ with an overly voiced vowel before /t/. Focus on maintaining /eɪ/ in the first syllable and a quick, light /nt/ ending.
In US, UK, and AU, the word is generally /ˈeɪ.dʒənt/. US speakers often have clearer /dʒ/ and a slightly rhotic influence, UK speakers may flatten the /ɜː/ sound? Not necessary here; the UK form remains /ˈeɪ.dʒənt/ with non-rhoticity not affecting this word. Australian tends to reduce the /ə/ slightly and maintain the same /ˈeɪ.dʒənt/. Overall, all share the same primary stress and consonant cluster; minor vowel quality shifts occur due to accent.” ,
Two main challenges: the /eɪ/ monophasic diphthong can be mispronounced as /e/ or /ɛ/; and the /dʒ/ cluster followed by /ənt/ requires precise timing so the /ə/ doesn’t blend into /nt/. Practicing the transition from /eɪ/ to /dʒənt/ helps, as does isolating and repeating the /dʒ/ sound in fast speech to prevent a slurred /ɡ/ or /t/ mispronunciation.
The unique aspect is the strong first-syllable vowel /eɪ/ and the precise alveo-palatal /dʒ/ onset. Ensure mouth positioning: lips neutral, tongue blade near the alveolar ridge for /dʒ/, and a quick transition to the schwa. This word’s difficulty also comes from keeping the final /nt/ clean; avoid vocalizing the /n/ too long or blending with /t/.
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