5 syllables: in, ter, a, gen, cy. Stress on a.
/ˌɪntɚˈeɪdʒənsi/
Say it backInteragency refers to actions, interactions, or cooperation involving multiple government agencies or organizations. The term is typically used in formal policy, administrative, or intergovernmental contexts to describe joint initiatives, information sharing, or coordinated operations.
"The interagency task force released a joint statement on cybersecurity collaboration."
"Policy reforms require interagency coordination to ensure consistent implementation across agencies."
"Civilian and military leaders formed an interagency group to assess the humanitarian response."
Pronounce as /ˌɪn.təˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ (US) or /ˌɪn.təˈeɪ.dʒən.si/ (UK). The rhythm emphasizes the third syllable. Start with a light, unstressed 'in', then a schwa in the second syllable, stress on 'A' in 'agency', and a clear final 'si' sound. Mouth: relaxed lips, neutral vowel in -ter-, tip of the tongue near the ridge behind the upper teeth for the 't', then the 'dʒ' as in 'jeans', ending with a soft 'si'.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (not stressing the third syllable), conflating -agency into -ajen-see, or dropping the second unstressed syllable. Correction: emphasize the third syllable with /ˈeɪ.dʒən/ and keep the middle 'ə' as a schwa. Practice the sequence in rhythm: in-tə-ˈeɪ-dʒən-si, ensuring the /t/ is clear, the /dʒ/ is a single affricate, and the final /si/ is crisp rather than reduced.
In US vowels, the second syllable uses a weak 'ə' and the stress is on the third: ˌɪn.tɚˈeɪ.dʒən.si. UK retains similar stress but uses a slightly more clipped /ə/ and non-rhotic r: ˌɪn.təˈeɪ.dʒən.si. Australian tends toward a broader vowel in 'agency' with a rounded /aɪ/ closer to /əˈeɪ/ and a more fronted /ɪ/ in the first syllable. Overall, rhotics differ: US rhotics are pronounced, UK and AU are often non-rhotic in connected speech; vowel quality around /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ may shift slightly with accent. IPA remains a reliable guide.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllabic three-stress pattern and the /dʒ/ cluster in the middle. The sequence in-tə-ˈeɪ-dʒən-si can trip speed and cause mis-stressing (accenting the wrong syllable) or blending of /dʒ/ with neighboring sounds. A clear separation of syllables and crisp articulation of /t/ and /dʒ/ helps; practice with slow tempo, then increase speed while keeping the jaw relaxed and making the /eɪ/ long and prominent.
There are no truly silent letters in interagency, but speakers often soften or reduce the second syllable’s vowel to a soft schwa, especially in rapid speech. Ensure you maintain the /ˈeɪ/ vowel in the third syllable and avoid reducing the /dʒ/ to an almost 'j' sound. Focus on keeping the sequence clear: in-tə-ˈeɪ-dʒən-si.
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- US: emphasize rhotic clarity; the middle schwa is relaxed; the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is brief. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; the /r/ is not pronounced; maintain clear /t/ and /dʒ/; keep /ə/ in the second syllable. - AU: vowel quality in /eɪ/ and /ɪ/ can be broader; light r-coloring absent; ensure the third syllable carries the main stress. IPA anchors: US /ˌɪn.tɚˈeɪ.dʒən.si/, UK /ˌɪn.təˈeɪ.dʒən.si/, AU /ˌɪn.təˈeɪ.dʒən.si/.
Interagency comes from Latin prefix inter- meaning ‘between, among’ combined with agency, derived from Old French agence meaning ‘organization, function, office’ and ultimately from Latin agere ‘to do, drive, act.’ The term gained bureaucratic currency in the 20th century as governments expanded coordination efforts across departments. By mid-century, interagency was used to describe collaborative bodies composed of representatives from multiple agencies to pursue common goals, such as security, welfare, or regulatory oversight. Over time, it retained its emphasis on joint action rather than unilateral action, and has become a standard term in policy, defense, and public administration literature. First known uses appear in policy documents and intelligence reports where cross-agency cooperation was essential to implement complex programs. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, interagency entered common parlance in national security, disaster response, and research governance contexts, consistently signaling cooperative, multi-organizational effort.
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Words that rhyme with "interagency"
-nce sounds
-ent sounds
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