intermediate

¹ American  

[in-ter-mee-dee-it] / ˌɪn tərˈmi di ɪt /

adjective

1. being, situated, or acting between two points, stages, things, persons, etc..

   the intermediate steps in a procedure.

2. of or relating to an intermediate school.

3. Automotive. mid-size.

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noun

1. a person who acts between others; intermediary; mediator.

2. something intermediate, as a form or class.

3. Chemistry. a derivative of the initial material formed before the desired product of a chemical process.

intermediate ² American  

[in-ter-mee-dee-eyt] / ˌɪn tərˈmi diˌeɪt /

verb (used without object)

intermediated, intermediating

1. to act as an intermediary; intervene; mediate.

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intermediate British  

adjective

1. occurring or situated between two points, extremes, places, etc; in between

2. (of a class, course, etc) suitable for learners with some degree of skill or competence

3. physics (of a neutron) having an energy between 100 and 100 000 electronvolts

4. geology (of such igneous rocks as syenite) containing between 55 and 66 per cent silica

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noun

1. something intermediate

2. a substance formed during one of the stages of a chemical process before the desired product is obtained

verb

1. (intr) to act as an intermediary or mediator

Other Word Forms

• intermediacy
  noun
• intermediately
  adverb
• intermediateness
  noun
• intermediation
  noun
• intermediator
  noun
• intermediatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of intermediate¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, equivalent to Latin intermedi ( us ) intermediary ( inter- inter- + medius middle, in the middle) + -ātus -ate ¹

Origin of intermediate²

1600–10; < Medieval Latin intermediātus, past participle of intermediāre. See inter-, mediate

Explanation

Use the adjective intermediate when you find yourself in that in-between stage, like after you complete an introductory class but before you are ready for the advanced stuff. The word intermediate comes from the Latin intermediatus, tracing back to intermedius, which combines inter-, meaning “between” and medius, meaning “middle.” So you can see that intermediate describes something or someone in the middle, between two distinct phases, like an intermediate swimmer who has mastered the basic strokes but isn't yet ready to join the racing team.

Example Sentences

Consider a combination of a short-term bond fund and an intermediate bond fund for the money you decide not to put into equities.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

For taxable bonds, he suggests intermediate corporates that are callable, which could mean getting more cash returned sooner to reinvest.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

The Food and Drug Administration later approved it for healthier patients at intermediate and low risk of dying from surgery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The ability to create and maintain reactive intermediate molecules in water also brings scientists closer to replicating the chemistry that naturally occurs inside living cells, which are mostly composed of water.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

At first, the shocked ground crew waiting back at the intermediate airfield had no way of knowing who’d been killed until the surviving aircraft returned.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• transitional