The difference between Agent and Representative

When used as nouns, agent means one who exerts power, or has the power to act, whereas representative means one who may speak for another in a particular capacity, especially in negotiation.


Representative is also adjective with the meaning: typical.

check bellow for the other definitions of Agent and Representative

  1. Agent as a noun:

    One who exerts power, or has the power to act

  2. Agent as a noun:

    One who acts for, or in the place of, another (the principal), by authority from him/her; someone entrusted to do the business of another

  3. Agent as a noun:

    A person who looks for work for another person

  4. Agent as a noun:

    Someone who works for an intelligence agency

  5. Agent as a noun:

    An active power or cause or substance; something which has the power to produce an effect

  6. Agent as a noun (computing):

    In the client-server model, the part of the system that performs information preparation and exchange on behalf of a client or server. Especially in the phrase “intelligent agent” it implies some kind of autonomous process which can communicate with other agents to perform some collective task on behalf of one or more humans.

  7. Agent as a noun (grammar):

    The participant of a situation that carries out the action in this situation, e.g. "the boy" in the sentences "The boy kicked the ball" and "The ball was kicked by the boy".

  1. Representative as an adjective:

    Typical; having the same properties or interest as a larger group.

  2. Representative as an adjective:

    Representing, showing a likeness.

    Examples:

    "Are you sure this paper is representative of your child's writing?"

    "the representative faculty of the human imagination"

  1. Representative as a noun:

    One who may speak for another in a particular capacity, especially in negotiation.

    Examples:

    "I will send a representative to work out the details of the contract."

  2. Representative as a noun:

    A member of a legislative or governing body who represents a constituency.

    Examples:

    "She served four terms as representative of her local at the national union convention."

  3. Representative as a noun:

    Something regarded as typical of its class.

  4. Representative as a noun (US, politics):

    A member of the US House of Representatives.

    Examples:

    "All representatives face re-election every two years."

  5. Representative as a noun:

    A company agent who visits potential purchasers; a salesman.

  6. Representative as a noun (legal):

    An heir.