mediate
Americanverb (used with object)
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mediates,
present (3rd person singular)
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mediated,
past participle, past
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mediating
present participle
-
to settle (disputes, strikes, etc.) as an intermediary between parties; reconcile.
- Synonyms:
- arbitrate
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to bring about (an agreement, accord, truce, peace, etc.) as an intermediary between parties by compromise, reconciliation, removal of misunderstanding, etc.
- Synonyms:
- arbitrate
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to effect (a result) or convey (a message, gift, etc.) by or as if by an intermediary.
verb (used without object)
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mediates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
mediated,
past participle, past
-
mediating
present participle
adjective
verb
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(intr; usually foll by between or in) to intervene (between parties or in a dispute) in order to bring about agreement
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to bring about (an agreement)
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to bring about (an agreement) between parties in a dispute
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to resolve (differences) by mediation
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(intr) to be in a middle or intermediate position
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(tr) to serve as a medium for causing (a result) or transferring (objects, information, etc)
adjective
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occurring as a result of or dependent upon mediation
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a rare word for intermediate
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logic (of an inference) having more than one premise, esp, being syllogistic in form
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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mediatenessnoun
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mediatornoun
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mediativeadjective
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self-mediatingadjective
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unmediatingadjective
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mediatelyadverb
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mediatoriallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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mediatesimple
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mediatessimple
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have mediatedperfect
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has mediatedperfect
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am mediatingprogressive
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are mediatingprogressive
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is mediatingprogressive
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have been mediatingperfect progressive
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has been mediatingperfect progressive
Past
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mediatedsimple
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had mediatedperfect
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was mediatingprogressive
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were mediatingprogressive
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had been mediatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of mediate
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre “to be in the middle, intercede”; see medium, -ate 1
Explanation
If your two best friends aren't speaking to each other, you might find yourself trying to mediate a peace accord between them. To mediate is to go from one to another and try to make peace. Mediate derives from the Latin medius "middle," and people who mediate are in the middle, between the parties. Other things that are in the middle can be said to mediate as well. Your mind can mediate between your two conflicting personalities.
Vocabulary lists containing mediate
100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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The Blood of Olympus
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"The Diary of a Young Girl," Vocabulary from the diary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"So, the United States is trying to mediate with the sides with the goal of creating a unified proposal."
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The gut microbiota may also help mediate these effects.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
She said that "you can't mediate with someone who asks you to go into a meeting with preconditions".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
The Gryffindor and Slytherin maintain a traditional rivalry, the Ravenclaw nerds out about magical history and the Hufflepuff attempts to mediate them all.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
If Cecilia went in now she would have to mediate between her mother’s vague instructions and Betty’s forceful state of mind.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Beijing works closely with regional actors such as Egypt, which mediates between Israel and Palestinian groups, Liu added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026
The study, "Karyoptosis mediates cell death and neurodegeneration upon proteotoxic stress," was published in Nature Communications.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 5, 2026
The Geneva-based body that mediates trade disputes Friday said its Trade Barometer fell to 101.7 in June from 102.3 in January.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
One way to escape this game of chicken is when a third party mediates, offering both sides an off-ramp.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
The practical ego mediates between the theoretical and the absolute ego.
From History of Modern Philosophy From Nicolas of Cusa to the Present Time by Richard Falckenberg
Diplomatic efforts mediated by the United States to end the war more than four years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine have so far yielded no results.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
An American official described this week’s mediated discussions as “positive and constructive,” while Iranian officials said Saturday they were awaiting an official U.S. response.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
During the fourth decade of warming, they observed that stable portions of soil organic matter, once believed to resist warming mediated decomposition, also began to break down.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Divorce rings can also be a way of marking a kind of financial liberation, says Kate Daly, co-founder of Amicable, a UK company offering mediated divorce services.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
He mediated between demigods, listened to all sides of an argument, found compromises.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Kuwait recently signed a new defense pact with Pakistan, which has played a mediating role in seeking to halt the U.S.-Iran conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Among the international guests was Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been mediating between Iran and the US, and who attended alongside the powerful Pakistani army chief Asim Munir.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Both sides also agreed to the creation of a "de-confliction cell" between the US, Iran and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediating countries, to end military operations in Lebanon, their statement said.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Countries that have been mediating the talks didn’t confirm Trump’s optimism in their formal comments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Right after the war, the Jews’ Haganah mediating body stepped up the longtime negotiations with the British.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
