fixer

[fik-ser]

noun

1. a person or thing that fixes, sets, adjusts, or repairs.

2. Informal.

   1. a person who arranges matters in advance, or acts as a liaison.

      The film crew hired a fixer for the foreign location shoot.

   2. a person who neutralizes problems for another, as for an individual or organization whose reputation is threatened by past misdeeds or conflicts, often through bribery or influence.

      The agent also worked as a fixer for several movie stars, keeping sex scandals and drug arrests out of the tabloids.

3. Informal.,  fixer-upper.

4. Photography.,  fixative.

5. Slang.,  a person who sells narcotics to addicts.

fixer

/ ˈfɪksə /

noun

1. a person or thing that fixes

2. photog a solution containing one or more chemical compounds that is used, in fixing, to dissolve unexposed silver halides. It sometimes has an additive to stop the action of developer

3. slang,  a person who makes arrangements, esp by underhand or illegal means

Word History and Origins

Origin of fixer¹

First recorded in 1840–50; fix + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“You are the fixer,” one of the crew said.

Read more on Literature

Last week the BBC exposed Kurdish crime fixers who claimed to be able to make £60,000 illegal working fines disappear.

Read more on BBC

For much of the 20th century, Cowley operated as a kind of literary fixer, a man who knew how to work the publishing system, create reputations and shape public taste.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many will seek out a local fixer to translate, arrange interviews, navigate the war zone and secure food and lodging.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Others were open about their fees, saying a network of fixers would also get a cut.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• advocate 
• arbiter 
• arbitrator 
• broker 
• go-between 
• intermediary 
• judge 
• negotiator www.thesaurus.com
• peacemaker 
• referee 
• troubleshooter