Department vs. Agency

Department vs. Agency — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Department and Agency

Departmentnoun

A part, portion, or subdivision.

Agencynoun

The capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power; action or activity; operation.

Departmentnoun

A distinct course of life, action, study, or the like.

Technical things are not his department; he's a people person.

Agencynoun

An individual or object through which power is exerted or an end is achieved: instrumentality, means.

Departmentnoun

A subdivision of an organization.

Agencynoun

The office or function of an agent; also, the relationship between a principal and that person's agent.

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Departmentnoun

One of the principal divisions of executive government

the Treasury Department; the Department of Agriculture; police department

Agencynoun

An establishment engaged in doing business for another; also, the place of business or the district of such an agency.

Departmentnoun

One of the divisions of instructions

the physics department; the gender studies department

Agencynoun

A department or other administrative unit of a government; also, the office or headquarters of, or the district administered by such unit of government.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease RegistryCentral Intelligence Agency

Departmentnoun

A territorial division; a district; especially, in France, one of the districts composed of several arrondissements into which the country is divided for governmental purposes. In France, a department is smaller than a region

Agencynoun

an administrative unit of government;

the Central Intelligence Agencythe Census BureauOffice of Management and BudgetTennessee Valley Authority
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Departmentnoun

(historical) A military subdivision of a country

the Department of the Potomac

Agencynoun

a business that serves other businesses

Departmentnoun

(obsolete) Act of departing; departure.

Agencynoun

the state of being in action or exerting power;

the agency of providenceshe has free agency

Departmentnoun

a specialized division of a large organization;

you'll find it in the hardware departmentshe got a job in the historical section of the Treasury

Agencynoun

the state of serving as an official and authorized delegate or agent

Departmentnoun

the territorial and administrative division of some countries (such as France)

Agencynoun

how a result is obtained or an end is achieved;

a means of controlan example is the best agency of instructionthe true way to success

Departmentnoun

a specialized sphere of knowledge;

baking is not my departmenthis work established a new department of literature