intercession

American  

[in-ter-sesh-uhn] / ˌɪn tərˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

1. an act or instance of interceding.

2. an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person.

3. a prayer to God on behalf of another.

4. Roman History. the interposing of a veto, as by a tribune.

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intercession British  

/ ˌɪntəˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of interceding

2. the act of interceding or offering petitionary prayer to God on behalf of others

3. such petitionary prayer

4. Roman history the interposing of a veto by a tribune or other magistrate

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Other Word Forms

• intercessional adjective
• intercessor noun
• intercessorial adjective
• preintercession noun

Etymology

Origin of intercession

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin intercessiōn- (stem of intercessiō ), equivalent to intercess ( us ) past participle of intercēdere to intercede (equivalent to interced- variant stem + -tus past participle suffix, with -dt- > -ss- ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Intercession is prayer or petition in favor of someone else. When you started wearing a cap of the rival baseball team, your baseball-mad family made an intercession to the gods to save your soul. An intercession happens when you intercede in something, or act as a mediator or go-between to help solve a problem. Sometimes nations make intercessions in the internal affairs of other nations, if something brutal is happening. In that case, the intercession might involve sending troops, but often intercessions are verbal. If your friend is in trouble, you might make an intercession to try to get her out of trouble, especially if she's not good at explaining herself.

Example Sentences

Constant upkeep and repair can be a kind of life-affirming ritual—an appreciation for how even the best-made machines require the regular intercession of human skill and diligence.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

Some online voices suggested that the volunteers should have let him go through with the threat rather than intervene, likening this intercession to an editor’s changing an entry’s tense from is to was.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2025

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith got their celestial intercession thanks to the “Men In Black” actor’s Oscars night slap of presenter Chris Rock.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2023

“Only God knows the value and the strength of his intercession, of his sacrifices offered for the good of the Church,” Francis said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 31, 2022

Through Dr. Trefusis’s kind intercession, I was permitted to ride with them, though atop the carriage, rather than within.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson