agent noun

a·gent noun
Australia, New Zealand, UK/ˌeɪ̯.d͡ʒənt ˈnaʊ̯n/Australia/ˌæɪ̯.d͡ʒənt ˈnæɔ̯n/New Zealand/ˌæɪ̯.d͡ʒənt ˈnæʊ̯n/Scotland/ˌe.d͡ʒənt ˈnʌʊ̯n/

noun

A noun that denotes an agent (human or nonhuman) that performs the action denoted by the verb from which the noun is derived.

“The agent noun “cutter” means a person who cuts, or a thing that is made to or is able to cut something.”

Similar
nomen agentis
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Meanings

nounagent noun (plural agent nouns)

plural agent nouns

  1. grammarA noun that denotes an agent (human or nonhuman) that performs the action denoted by the verb from which the noun is derived.

    The agent noun “cutter” means a person who cuts, or a thing that is made to or is able to cut something.

    Synonyms: nomen agentis

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA noun that denotes an agent (human or nonhuman) that performs the action denoted by the verb from which the noun is derived.

Similar
nomen agentis

Origin

First attested in 1782, but in common usage only as of 1875–1880.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic اسم الفاعل
  • اسم الفاعلnoun that denotes an agent
Czech činitelské jméno
  • činitelské jménonoun that denotes an agent
Dutch nomen agentis
  • nomen agentisnoun that denotes an agent
Finnish tekijännimi
  • tekijänniminoun that denotes an agent
French nom d'agent
  • nom d'agentnoun that denotes an agent
German Nomen Agentis, Täterbezeichnung
  • Nomen Agentisnoun that denotes an agent
  • Täterbezeichnungnoun that denotes an agent
Hungarian cselekvőnév
  • cselekvőnévnoun that denotes an agent
Italian nome d'agente
  • nome d'agentenoun that denotes an agent
Japanese 行為者名詞, 動作主名詞
  • 行為者名詞 (kōisha meishi)noun that denotes an agent
  • 動作主名詞 (dōsashu meishi)noun that denotes an agent
Korean 행위자 명사
  • 행위자 명사 (haeng'wija myeongsa)noun that denotes an agent
Latin nomen agentis
  • nomen agentisnoun that denotes an agent
Persian اسم فاعل
  • اسم فاعل (esm e fâ'el)noun that denotes an agent
Polish wykonawca czasownika
  • wykonawca czasownikanoun that denotes an agent
Spanish nombre de agente
  • nombre de agentenoun that denotes an agent
Welsh enw gweithredydd
  • enw gweithredyddnoun that denotes an agent
Cite this entry
APA

agent noun. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agent%20noun

MLA

“agent noun.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agent%20noun. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “agent noun,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/agent%20noun.

Source: agent noun on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.