agency
AY-juhn-see
/ˈeɪ.dʒən.si/
The capacity, condition, or state of acting or exerting power; independent capability to make choices and act upon them.
Refers to an individual's active power to make independent decisions and affect change in their environment.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'agentia', stemming from 'agere' (to do or act). While historically used for business representation, sociological and philosophical usage adopted it to denote human capacity for intentional action.
Word relationships
- self-direction: Self-direction is guided personal focus, while agency encompasses the active power and capacity to produce effects.
- passivity: Passivity is remaining inactive or reactive without initiating action.
Commonly confused with
- agenda: An agenda is a list of plan items, whereas agency is the personal capacity to make choices and act.
Word family
- agent (noun): A person or thing that acts or exerts power.
Collocations
- moral agency
- human agency
- exercise agency
- sense of agency
Example sentences
- "Women are not merely victims of social structures; they possess agency to resist and transform their conditions." Development Economics (Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom)
- "The study examined how economic independence grants individuals greater agency in family decisions." Sociology
Memory hook
Agent = someone who acts. Agency = the power to act. The power to act.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a commercial business (like a real estate agency) when writing in philosophical contexts.
Fun facts
- In sociology, the debate between 'structure vs. agency' explores whether human behavior is determined by social structures or by individual choice.
Related words
Explore more words
empowerment, leverage, capability, empower, efficacy, influence
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