interlocutor

American  

[in-ter-lok-yuh-ter] / ˌɪn tərˈlɒk yə tər /

noun

1. a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue.

2. the man in the middle of the line of performers in a minstrel troupe, who acts as the announcer and banters with the end men.

3. a person who questions; interrogator.

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interlocutor British  

/ ˌɪntəˈlɒkjʊtə /

noun

1. a person who takes part in a conversation

2. Also called: middleman.  the man in the centre of a troupe of minstrels who engages the others in talk or acts as announcer

3. Scots law a decree by a judge

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Other Word Forms

• interlocutress noun

Etymology

Origin of interlocutor

First recorded in 1505–15; from Latin interlocū-, variant stem of interloquī “to speak between” ( inter- inter- + loquī “to speak”) + -tor

Example Sentences

After a report in Israeli media said he was the interlocutor of the US, he posted on X that "no negotiations have been held with the US" and denounced "fakenews".

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Now he wanted to ensure that his chief American interlocutor was someone he could easily manipulate.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2025

Ms. Wiles seems, in the piece, to have been allowed, perhaps even encouraged, to view her interlocutor as her friend, her jolly confidante.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Prior to his arrest he was described as an "interlocutor" working with the Loyalist Communities Council on transforming the UVF into a peaceful organisation.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

I perceived, of course, the drift of my interlocutor.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë