intermediary

American  

[in-ter-mee-dee-er-ee] / ˌɪn tərˈmi diˌɛr i /

noun

• intermediaries
  plural

1. an intermediate agent or agency; a go-between or mediator.

   Synonyms:

   umpire, arbitrator

2. a medium or means.

3. an intermediate form or stage.

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adjective

1. being between; intermediate.

2. acting between persons, parties, etc.; serving as an intermediate agent or agency.

   an intermediary power.

intermediary British  

/ ˌɪntəˈmiːdɪərɪ /

noun

1. a person who acts as a mediator or agent between parties

2. something that acts as a medium or means

3. an intermediate state or period

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adjective

1. acting as an intermediary

2. situated, acting, or coming between; intermediate

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• intermediaries
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intermediary intermediaries

It is an exchange, a neutral intermediary that never takes a side.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s recent death was also a major blow to the Israeli leader, as the South Carolina Republican had long served as an intermediary between Netanyahu and Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

According to the Wall Street Journal, intermediary countries including Qatar have outlined proposals to revive the ceasefire.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026

Pakistan, a key intermediary in negotiations, expressed "deep concern at escalation in regional tensions", according to its foreign office.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

A Mr. Whymper, a solicitor living in Willingdon, had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world, and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell

Transactions run through intermediaries who are often children or relatives of Revolutionary Guard or Intelligence Ministry figures, he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

He denied on Sunday that Iran was negotiating with the United States, saying they were merely "exchanging messages" via intermediaries.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

BBC Sport previously reported that Arsenal would need to increase a £70m bid they made through intermediaries last month.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

The fact that the money goes through intermediaries doesn’t change the fundamentals of the arrangement.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

His wife, Nivea, preferred to deal with God without benefit of intermediaries.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• broker
• emissary
• go-between
• mediator
• negotiator