agent
noun
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Definition of agent
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Other Words from agent
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adjective
Synonyms for agent
Synonyms
agency, instrument, instrumentality, machinery, means, medium, ministry, organ, vehicle
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Examples of agent in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When the acid is added, the mixture becomes chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleaching agent. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "Drinking bleach no cure for autism, HIV/AIDS, cancer, FDA warns," 13 Aug. 2019 Lundquist, a Democrat who teaches at Cal State Northridge, pitched herself as a change agent who would disrupt the status quo and break up the long dynasty of City Hall aides assuming the seat. — Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, "Democrats look to flip L.A. City Council seat in the Valley long held by Republicans," 13 Aug. 2019 Matthew Bowen, 39, a 10-year veteran agent stationed in Nogales, was scheduled to appear in Tucson federal court on Monday for the first day of his trial. — Rafael Carranza, azcentral, "Arizona border agent pleads guilty to intentionally running over migrant near Nogales," 12 Aug. 2019 Dad was a high school baseball coach, mom a real estate agent. — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, "‘This is real’: How A’s Nathan Patterson went from sales to slinging fastballs," 12 Aug. 2019 Most real estate economists and real estate agents have said prices rose so quickly in recent years that the median home price is far out of reach for many potential buyers. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego mid-year housing report: Fewer sales, rising prices," 11 Aug. 2019 According to the museum's website, Thomas Edison saved a station agent's child by pulling him off the railroad tracks as a rolling box car came toward them. — Micah Walker, Detroit Free Press, "All aboard: Experience fall colors on these historic trains in Michigan," 11 Aug. 2019 This real estate agent has 400 to sell —One of Warren Buffet’s favorite metrics is flashing red. — Anne Fisher, Fortune, "‘You’re Pretty Stupid.’ What Can Happen to Your Business When A.I. Goes Awry," 10 Aug. 2019 Inside the terminal, hundreds looked on, their faces pressed against the window, listening as a gate agent tearfully recounted the Knight family's story over the intercom. — Author: Reis Thebault, Anchorage Daily News, "Southwest Airlines flew the remains of a Vietnam airman home to Dallas. The pilot was his son.," 9 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for agent
enrolled agent
nounFinancial Definition of enrolled agent
What It Is
An enrolled agent (EA) is person who is authorized to represent a taxpayer before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
How It Works
To become an EA, a person has to pass a three-part comprehensive IRS test of individual and business tax returns or be a former IRS employee with appropriate experience. To maintain the credential, EAs must obey ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education every three years.
The EA designation is the highest one the IRS confers, and EAs have the authority to represent any taxpayer for any tax matter.
Why It Matters
Tax advisors can be CPAs, attorneys, or other people, but not all tax advisors are EAs. Treasury Department Circular No. 230 sets forth the requirements for who can practice before the IRS.
EAs and other tax advisors might help a client structure his assets such that his estate taxes are lower. They might help a company organize itself so that its shareholders pay less in taxes or so that an acquisition does not generate a large tax liability.
Source: Investing Answers
transfer agent
nounFinancial Definition of transfer agent
What It Is
A transfer agent manages and maintains records of who owns a corporation's or mutual fund's stock or bonds. Most transfer agents are banks or trust companies, although some companies act as their own transfer agents.
How It Works
Let's assume Company XYZ is a publicly traded corporation that has 10,000,000 shares outstanding. If the shares trade all day, how does Company XYZ know who owns its shares? The answer lies with the transfer agent.
The transfer agent has three big jobs: 1) to issue and cancel stock certificates (including when a company pays a stock dividend or has a stock split); 2) to be an intermediary that makes the dividend or interest payments, sends out and keeps track of proxy materials, exchanges the company's stock or bonds if a merger occurs, tenders shares when necessary, and mails the company's financials and other reports; and, 3) to deal with replacing lost, stolen, or destroyed certificates.
Why It Matters
Transfer agents are crucial behind-the-scenes entities in the business world because they maintain important information and protect even the smallest shareholder or bondholder's right to information disclosure. Without transfer agents, companies would have to find other ways to manage the incredible, time-consuming tasks of keeping track of the constant changes in shareholder and bondholder information.
Source: Investing Answers
agent
noun
English Language Learners Definition of agent
See the full definition for agent in the English Language Learners Dictionary
agent
noun
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