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

That’s something you have to cultivate without an intermediary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 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 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

He or she should be in another room entirely, answering questions by e-mail or through the use of an intermediary.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

At the same time, Tehran said diplomatic messages were still being exchanged by both sides through intermediaries, despite a collapse of a ceasefire.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Diaz-Canel said the government was also considering scrapping state intermediaries in import and export operations.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

The eight intermediaries are not a definitive list of firms that help companies surveil customers, but just those who the FTC reached out to for the study.

From Salon ● May 18, 2026

The man fed them, whittled toys for the little girl, and, through a line of intermediaries, contacted the railroad.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Related Words

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