Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Central Intelligence Agency: An independent agency of the United States government. Its primary functions are to collect, analyze, and coordinate foreign intelligence and counterintelligence activities. It operates overseas to support national security interests and policy objectives. The agency is led by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and operates under the supervision of the President and the National Security Council.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Central Intelligence Agency issued a report on the geopolitical situation.
  • She began her career at the Central Intelligence Agency as an analyst.
  • Information gathered by the Central Intelligence Agency is classified.

Advanced Usage

• "CIA operations": Refers to the specific activities, missions, or projects undertaken by the agency.
  • The details of most CIA operations remain secret for decades.
• "CIA director": The title for the head of the agency.
  • The CIA director briefed the committee on the latest threats.

Variants and Related Words

• CIA (n): The universally used initialism for the Central Intelligence Agency.
  • The CIA has its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
• Intelligence community (n): The broader collective of U.S. government agencies and organizations involved in intelligence activities, of which the CIA is a key member.
  • The intelligence community, including the CIA and FBI, worked on the case.

Synonyms

• The Agency: A common informal synonym used within government and media circles.
• Langley: A metonym for the CIA, referencing the location of its headquarters.

Related Phrases

• CIA asset: A person, group, or resource utilized by the CIA to gather intelligence.
  • The journalist was alleged to have been a CIA asset.
• CIA station: The office or base of CIA operations in a foreign country, typically within a U.S. embassy.
  • He was assigned to the CIA station in Berlin.

Noun

1. an independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest; headed by the Director of Central Intelligence under the supervision of the President and National Security Council