intermediary

[ in-ter-mee-dee-er-ee ]

noun

, plural in·ter·me·di·ar·ies.

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.

adjective

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

   an intermediary power.

intermediary

/ 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

adjective

1. acting as an intermediary
2. situated, acting, or coming between; intermediate

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermediary¹

1785–95; < Late Latin intermedi ( um ) intervening place + -ary; intermediate ¹

Example Sentences

The model is unique because we help make direct connections between donors and organizations rather than to another donation platform or offshore intermediary.

From Salon

He’s talking mainly about all the intermediary products that go into making cars, batteries and their enabling parts, even for goods made in America.

From Los Angeles Times

As Huizar’s intermediary, Esparza served as a go-between for another bribery scheme — this one involving the developer of a planned 20-story residential tower at Hill and Olympic in downtown Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometime after that call, Mario Medina pretended to be an intermediary between the victim’s family and the hostage takers.

From Los Angeles Times

An Italian mafia fugitive - who served as an intermediary with Colombian drug gangs - has been arrested after almost four years on the run in South America.

From BBC

Related Words

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