Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

CIA

1 American  
Or C.I.A.

abbreviation

  1. Central Intelligence Agency: the U.S. federal agency that coordinates governmental intelligence activities outside the United States.


Cia. 2 American  

abbreviation

  1. Company.


CIA British  

abbreviation

  1. Central Intelligence Agency; a federal US bureau created in 1947 to coordinate and conduct espionage and intelligence activities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Cia.

From the Spanish word Compañía

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People familiar with the operation said that two additional CIA officials also were present during the raid.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

A former CIA officer who flipped a swing House district in northern Virginia twice, Spanberger has now been governor of the commonwealth for roughly four months.

From Salon • Apr. 15, 2026

The field marshal, acting on CIA intelligence, handed over the alleged mastermind behind the 2021 Kabul airport bombing when Americans were evacuating from Afghanistan.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Lakanwal, who worked with the CIA, entered the U.S. on humanitarian parole and had a special immigrant visa application under way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Kisevalter had no doubts that Penkovsky was the kind of spy the CIA desperately needed.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau