mediate

American  

[mee-dee-eyt, mee-dee-it] / ˈmi diˌeɪt, ˈmi di ɪt /

verb (used with object)

• mediates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mediated,
  past participle,  past
• mediating
  present participle

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.

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verb (used without object)

• mediates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• mediated,
  past participle,  past
• mediating
  present participle

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 British  

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)

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adjective

1. occurring as a result of or dependent upon mediation

2. a rare word for intermediate

3. logic (of an inference) having more than one premise, esp, being syllogistic in form

mediate Scientific  

/ 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.

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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

• mediateness
  noun
• mediator
  noun
• mediative
  adjective
• self-mediating
  adjective
• unmediating
  adjective
• mediately
  adverb
• mediatorially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• mediating
  present
• mediated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mediate
  simple
• mediates
  simple
• have mediated
  perfect
• has mediated
  perfect
• am mediating
  progressive
• are mediating
  progressive
• is mediating
  progressive
• have been mediating
  perfect progressive
• has been mediating
  perfect progressive

Past

• mediated
  simple
• had mediated
  perfect
• was mediating
  progressive
• were mediating
  progressive
• had been mediating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mediate
  simple
• will have mediated
  perfect
• will be mediating
  progressive
• will have been mediating
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mediate mediates mediated mediating

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

The US president refers to Munir as his "favourite field marshal", following their acquaintance in the aftermath of conflict with India that Trump helped mediate last year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

For Rice, the answer is that smartphones mediate the world through a screen—swiping, recording, editing, posting and sharing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

He has since clarified that the US remains ready to mediate "if that opportunity presents itself".

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

In the beginning Mr. Dussel took our soon-forgotten clashes very seriously, but now he’s grown used to them and no longer tries to mediate.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

The hope is to become a "big fish" who mediates between the grunts and those with cash, maybe even entering polite society.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 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

So, if itaconate mediates the immunosuppressant effect of cortisone, wouldn't it be possible to administer itaconate directly, instead of glucocorticoids?

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2024

“This stirring, that mediates between ourselves and God, we can never pass beyond; and what that stirring is in its essence, and what love is in itself, we can never know.”

From Ruysbroeck by Evelyn Underhill

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

We’re seeing the first celebrity wedding that’s mediated almost entirely through misinformation.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 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

They also figure that most voters won’t notice since they will occur on transactions mediated by business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

Our eating habits are mediated by a mind-boggling collection of such items, from spoons and glasses to genetic engineering labs and gigantic ocean-going ships.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

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

Pakistan, which has been mediating a resolution to the Middle East war, condemned the drone attacks, saying they "pose a grave threat to peace and stability" in the Middle East.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has also been mediating the conflict, held a call with Qatar's emir on Friday to discuss the recent escalation, Sharif's office said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 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

By my second year, it was natural for me to spend a typical day mediating between Frederick Douglass’s integration into America and Martin Delany’s escape into nationalism.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Related Words

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