under-agent

under-agent

A shipping company appoints an under-agent to handle local deliveries.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A subordinate agent: "under-agent" refers to a person who acts as an agent on behalf of another agent, typically in a business, legal, or administrative context. This individual operates under the authority or delegation of a primary agent.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The real estate company appointed an under-agent to handle the smaller property sales. (A subordinate agent was assigned to manage less significant transactions.)
    • In the insurance firm, the under-agent was responsible for processing claims under the supervision of the senior agent. (The lower-ranking agent carried out tasks delegated by the main agent.)
Advanced Usage

  • "To act as an under-agent": to perform duties as a secondary or deputy agent.

    • He was hired to act as an under-agent for the diplomatic mission, handling logistical arrangements. (He served as a deputy agent in a supporting role.)

  • "Under-agent agreement": a formal contract defining the relationship and responsibilities between a primary agent and a subordinate agent.

    • The under-agent agreement specified the commission split and reporting structure. (The legal document outlined the terms for the deputy agent.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Agent (n): a person who acts on behalf of another, especially in business or legal matters.

    • The agent negotiated the contract on behalf of the client. (The person authorized to represent another.)

  • Subagent (n): a synonym for "under-agent"; a person appointed by an agent to perform some of the agent's duties.

    • The subagent handled the paperwork while the main agent focused on negotiations. (The deputy agent managed specific tasks.)
Synonyms
  • Deputy: a person appointed to act on behalf of another, often in a subordinate role.
  • Subordinate: a person under the authority or control of another.
  • Representative: someone who speaks or acts on behalf of a group or person, but in this context, a lower-level one.
Related Idioms
  • The term is primarily technical and found in formal contracts or organizational hierarchies.
Phrasal Verbs
  • The word is a compound noun and is not used as a verb.