agency
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agency
A company or office that provides or arranges certain services for other people or companies.
Eine Werbeagentur hat die neue Kampagne für das Produkt entwickelt.
An advertising agency developed the new campaign for the product.
agency
A state or semi-state authority responsible for a specific area of work.
Die Agentur für Arbeit hilft bei der Jobsuche.
The Federal Employment Agency helps with the job search.
The word 'Agentur' (agency) is very often used as the second part of compound nouns. The first part then describes exactly what service the agency offers.
Er hat sich bei einer Partnervermittlungsagentur angemeldet.
He registered with a matchmaking agency.
When it is a company, you can 'beauftragen' (commission/hire) an agency in order to receive a service. You can also work 'für' (for) or 'bei' (at) an agency.
Wir haben eine professionelle Agentur mit der Gestaltung der Webseite beauftragt.
We hired a professional agency to design the website.
State institutions can also be called 'Agentur' (agency). The best-known one is the 'Agentur für Arbeit' (Federal Employment Agency), which is responsible for job placement in Germany.
Wenn man arbeitslos wird, muss man sich bei der Agentur für Arbeit melden.
If you become unemployed, you have to register with the Federal Employment Agency.
office / agency
Amt and Agentur can both refer to public institutions with a specific area of responsibility. Amt usually denotes a specific administrative office. Agentur more often refers to a specialized state or semi-state institution; the institution’s official name is also important.
Der Bund leitet den Antrag an eine spezialisierte staatliche Agentur weiter.
The federal government forwards the application to a specialized state agency.
Die Stadt leitet den Antrag an das zuständige Amt weiter.
The city forwards the application to the responsible office.
