intermediary
Americannoun
-
an intermediate agent or agency; a go-between or mediator.
- Synonyms:
- umpire, arbitrator
-
a medium or means.
-
an intermediate form or stage.
adjective
-
being between; intermediate.
-
acting between persons, parties, etc.; serving as an intermediate agent or agency.
an intermediary power.
noun
-
a person who acts as a mediator or agent between parties
-
something that acts as a medium or means
-
an intermediate state or period
adjective
-
acting as an intermediary
-
situated, acting, or coming between; intermediate
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of intermediary
1785–95; < Late Latin intermedi ( um ) intervening place + -ary; see intermediate 1
Explanation
An intermediary is someone who acts as a go-between or a mediator between two other people. Be careful when you're the intermediary between two friends who are fighting, because they might both end up mad at you! The word intermediary comes from the Latin intermedius, which is also the root word for intermediate. Inter- means between, and medius means the middle — intermediary retains that sense of being in the middle. Intermediaries are used to negotiate between two countries who are at odds, between a company and a client over a contract, between two bickering children, or between a boss and an employee in salary negotiations.
Vocabulary lists containing intermediary
Animal Farm
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Economics
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 5
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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.
In the months since then, Pakistan has managed to keep Trump on side, even playing the role of an intermediary between Washington, Tehran and the Arab capitals.
From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026
A better way of insuring arbitrator impartiality is for both you and the firm to name an intermediary that chooses an arbitrator acceptable to both you and the firm.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
Since Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990, the army has disarmed various nonstate actors, played intermediary between rival political factions and has cracked down on drug smuggling and Islamist groups.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
"Every day we are losing hope and facing increasing mental pressure and health problems," one Indian crew member told AFP through an intermediary, asking not to be named.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
A gentleman in Osage County had once approached Agent Burger and introduced himself as an intermediary, a go-between, for Pike.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
