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

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Etymology

Origin of intermediary

1785–95; < Late Latin intermedi ( um ) intervening place + -ary; see intermediate ¹

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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

Meanwhile, China's influence rests partly on its role as an intermediary between Pyongyang and Washington, analysts say, and a direct Trump-Kim deal that sidelines Beijing in Shenzhen could therefore erode its leverage over both sides.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Sources with knowledge of the arrangement confirmed this was the case, and described to us how Hassan receives money from the US authorities through an intermediary, making it harder to trace.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

In other cases, he said, Navatek’s lobbyists would relay a request from an intermediary for a specific dollar amount.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Pakistani officials served as an intermediary between the Iranian and U.S. teams, passing messages between them that helped to foster subsequent talks in Islamabad that ultimately made no impact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

A Mr. Whymper, a solicitor living in Willingdon, had agreed to act as intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world, and would visit the farm every Monday morning to receive his instructions.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell

The talks are expected to focus on "messages exchanged with the United States through intermediaries... particularly regarding the conditions set by Iran for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz".

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

Israel has been providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence to help thwart further attacks, using American military intermediaries, according to Israeli media reports.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

"We are hopeful that the government will be addressing this in its latest interactions with social media intermediaries and direct them accordingly," she added.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Caballero, who once chaired MIT’s economics department, argues that rising debt is challenging the ability of the intermediaries to supply the balance-sheet space, market making, and rollover capacity needed to warehouse them.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Too much went to pay overhead—consultants, intermediaries, transportation companies, government fees—and not enough reached those in need.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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Related Words

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

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