Meaning & use
agencies
Last updated
“agencies” is a form of “agency”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountable
Organizations that provide a particular service, often on behalf of others.
Grammar: This is the plural form; use it with plural verbs, e.g., 'The agencies are hiring.'
Patterns
- government agencies
- aid agencies
- news agencies
Several international aid agencies are working in the region.
Government agencies monitor food safety.
She applied to several employment agencies.
Word forms
| singular | agency |
|---|
Common combinations
- government agencies
- Government agencies regulate the industry.
- aid agencies
- Aid agencies provide emergency relief.
- news agencies
- News agencies reported the story first.
- advertising agencies
- Advertising agencies create campaigns for clients.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bureaus
- Often used for government departments or offices, while 'agencies' is broader and can include private organizations.
- organizations
- A general term; 'agencies' specifically implies providing a service for others.
Word family
Commonly confused: agencies or agendas?
agencies vs agendas
Agendas are lists of things to discuss at a meeting; agencies are organizations. They sound similar but have different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses the plural noun 'agencies' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option C uses the plural 'agencies' with the plural verb 'are', which is correct. Option A mixes singular and plural incorrectly. Option B has a subject-verb agreement error ('agencies works'). Option D uses 'an' with a plural noun, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “agencies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.