agency and way share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. agency means “an administrative unit of government”. way means “how something is done or how it happens”. way is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈeɪdʒənsi/
1.n.an administrative unit of government
“the Central Intelligence Agency”
2.n.a business or organization that provides a particular service, especially the mediation of transactions between two parties
3.n.the state of being in action or exerting power
“the agency of providence”
/ˈweɪ/
1.n.how something is done or how it happens
“her dignified manner”
2.n.thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
“a means of control”
3.n.a line leading to a place or point
“he looked the other direction”
| agency | way | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪdʒənsi/ | /ˈweɪ/ |
| Said | AY-juhn-see | way |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Letters | 6 | 3 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun, adverb |
| Senses | 5 | 13 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | federal agency, government agency, bureau | manner, mode, style |
Full entry for agency · Full entry for way · More comparisons