兩個(gè)術(shù)語(yǔ)的區(qū)別在于agency by estoppel ( “表見(jiàn)代理”)(也稱為 agency by operation of law, apparent agency 或 ostensible agency) 并不存在真正的代理關(guān)系（actual agency)，即委托人和代理人之間并無(wú)代理協(xié)議存在，只是因委托人的行為讓第三人合理地認(rèn)為他與代理人之間確有代理關(guān)系，且第三人因此種確認(rèn)作為且受到傷害，此時(shí)由法院依據(jù)法律推定成立而委托人不得否認(rèn)的一種代理關(guān)系[1]。相比之下，agency in fact ( “事實(shí)代理”)所表示的代理關(guān)系則是由委托人和代理人經(jīng)協(xié)議事實(shí)確立的，其與前者正好相對(duì)[2]。
 
[1 ] "An agency created by operation of law and established by a principal's actions that would reasonably lead a third party to conclude that an agency exists. ” Cf. Bryan A. Garner, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 62，West Group (1999).
[2] “An agency created voluntarily, as by a contract. Agency in fact is distinguishable from an agency relationship created by law, such as agency by estoppel. ” Id. at p. 62.