mediate

[ verb mee-dee-eyt; adjective mee-dee-it ]

verb (used with object)

, me·di·at·ed, me·di·at·ing.

1. to settle (disputes, strikes, etc.) as an intermediary between parties; reconcile.

   Synonyms: arbitrate

2. to bring about (an agreement, accord, truce, peace, etc.) as an intermediary between parties by compromise, reconciliation, removal of misunderstanding, etc.

   Synonyms: arbitrate

3. to effect (a result) or convey (a message, gift, etc.) by or as if by an intermediary.

verb (used without object)

, me·di·at·ed, me·di·at·ing.

1. to act between parties to effect an agreement, compromise, reconciliation, etc.

   Synonyms: intervene, intercede

2. to occupy an intermediate place or position.

adjective

1. acting through, dependent on, or involving an intermediate agency; not direct or immediate.

mediate

verb

1. intr; usually foll by between or in to intervene (between parties or in a dispute) in order to bring about agreement
2. to bring about (an agreement)
3. to bring about (an agreement) between parties in a dispute
4. to resolve (differences) by mediation
5. intr to be in a middle or intermediate position
6. tr to serve as a medium for causing (a result) or transferring (objects, information, etc)

adjective

1. occurring as a result of or dependent upon mediation
2. See intermediate
   a rare word for intermediate
3. logic (of an inference) having more than one premise, esp, being syllogistic in form

mediate

/ mē′dē-āt′ /

1. To effect or convey a force between subatomic particles. The gauge bosons, for example, mediate the four fundamental forces of nature.

Derived Forms

• ˈmediateness, noun
• ˈmediately, adverb
• ˌmediaˈtorially, adverb
• ˈmediˌator, noun
• ˈmediative, adjective

Other Words From

• me·di·ate·ly [mee, -dee-it-lee], adverb
• me·di·ate·ness [mee, -dee-it-nis], noun
• self-me·di·at·ing adjective
• un·me·di·at·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre “to be in the middle, intercede”; medium, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mediate¹

C16: from Late Latin mediāre to be in the middle

Example Sentences

It’s up to Ji-Yoon to mediate between each of these competing interests.

From Time

Lawmakers aren’t able to anticipate and mediate every dispute over records, which is why the California Public Records Act has plenty of uncertainty.

From Voice of San Diego

They know that the metrics are influential, their day-to-day experience is totally mediated by data.

From MIT Technology Review

Yet Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Cairo to thank el-Sissi for mediating the peace deal.

From Ozy

You could also invest in a reputable carbon offset program to mediate the emissions from your plant’s trip.

From Popular-Science

The deputy offered by Leung to mediate, Carrie Lam, is also hated by many.

From The Daily Beast

I know for a fact that in my own case Oman was asked to mediate on our behalf directly by the US government.

From The Daily Beast

I would try to mediate his feuds with other teachers or the more authoritarian vice principal before they blew up.

From The Daily Beast

Savile allegedly helped to mediate between Charles and Diana as their marriage foundered.

From The Daily Beast

The fight was so harsh that Jiang Zemin [the former president] had to mediate.

From The Daily Beast

The critic steps in between this satirist and the poet—steps in to mediate.

From Project Gutenberg

These bodies were composed of the mediate prelates, the mediate nobles and representatives of the mediate cities.

From Project Gutenberg

Maximilian found time to make earnest but unavailing efforts to mediate between his cousin, Philip II.

From Project Gutenberg

We may also classify knowledge from another point of view as necessary (or immediate), and demonstrated (or mediate).

From Project Gutenberg

It is right that in the designs of nature pleasure should only be a mediate end, or a means; but for art it is the highest end.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• arbitrate
• intercede
• interfere
• intervene
• negotiate
• resolve

More About Mediate

What does mediate mean?

Mediate means to help to settle a dispute or create agreement when there is conflict between two or more people or groups by acting as an intermediary or go-between for those parties.

A person who acts as an intermediary or go-between in this way can be called a mediator. The act or process of mediating is called mediation. Mediation always involves a mediator acting as an impartial third party to guide the communication between the conflicting parties.

Sometimes, mediation happens in an informal way. You might help two friends by mediating their argument. But the word is perhaps most commonly used in more specific ways in formal situations, such as when a mediator mediates a labor dispute between a company and its striking employees or when a mediator mediates a divorce for two spouses.

When mediation occurs in an official or legal context, such as when it has been ordered by a judge, it is often called arbitration. Arbitration usually involves a decision that the parties are bound by. Mediation is typically less formal and usually involves suggestions for settling differences, as opposed to binding decisions.

Example: I know you two have your differences, so I’d like to mediate a meeting to see if you can come to an understanding.

Where does mediate come from?

The first records of the word mediate come from around 1400. It comes from the Latin verb mediāre, meaning “to be in the middle” or “to intercede.” The words intermediary and medium are related.

Mediating involves interceding in the middle of a conflict. A mediator is not there to take sides but instead to help promote agreement or reconciliation. In other words, the point of mediation is to find common ground so that there is no longer a need to mediate. Successful mediation often involves compromise.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to mediate?

• mediation (noun)
• mediator (noun)
• mediatorial (adjective)
• mediatory (adjective)

What are some synonyms for mediate?

• arbitrate
• intercede
• intervene

What are some words that share a root or word element with mediate? 

• remediation
• intermediary

What are some words that often get used in discussing mediate?

 

• parties
• conflict
• negotiation
• compromise
• agreement
• settlement
• dispute
• law

How is mediate used in real life?

The word mediate can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

If you guys needs someone to mediate, I'm here for you. I hate seeing friends fight.

— Hello mudda, Gaetano Fadda🐛 (@HarpoGarza) April 28, 2019

I’m old enough to remember when people expected the United States to step in and help mediate conflicts between India and Pakistan.

— Scafe says wear a gd mask (@erinscafe) March 1, 2019

PG&E has agreed to mediate a dispute w/ a former financial analyst who claims she was fired for reporting "improper expenditures by several high-level employees at PG&E for personal, non-work-related items, resulting in overruns of millions of dollars." @CourthouseNews pic.twitter.com/0SBXnQJWXg

— Nicholas Iovino (@NicholasIovino) January 22, 2020

 

 

Try using mediate!

Which of the following words is a synonym of mediate?

A. arbitrate
B. intercede
C. intervene
D. all of the above