Intermediary
A person who acts as a go-between to help two parties communicate or reach an agreement; a mediator.
nounIntermediary
A person who acts as a go-between to help two parties communicate or reach an agreement; a mediator.
nounImagine This
Imagine a calm negotiator standing between two arguing coworkers, passing messages and smoothing terms so they can shake hands.
Sounds Like
IN-ter-MID-ee-air-ee
Looks Like
inter + mediary (between + mediator)
Remember This
An intermediary stands between parties to facilitate communication or negotiation; the role is common in business, diplomacy, and dispute resolution.
Other Forms
Connect With
mediator, go-between, liaison, middleman, arbitrator
Note
Intermediary can be used as both a noun and an adjective (intermediary role, intermediary steps). Distinguish from related terms like 'mediate' (to negotiate) and 'intermediate' (between two stages).
Study Deeper
- The mediator acted as the intermediary to resolve the dispute between the two companies.
- An intermediary was appointed to facilitate the contract negotiations.
From Latin intermedius meaning between or middle, from inter- 'between' + medius 'middle'; via Old French intermédiaire.
IN-ter-MEDI-ary: remember 'medi' as in mediation—the go-between who sits in the middle between two parties.
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Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).