intermediary

[ in-ter-mee-dee-er-ee ]

noun

, plural in·ter·me·di·ar·ies.

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.

adjective

1. being between; intermediate.
2. acting between persons, parties, etc.; serving as an intermediate agent or agency:

   an intermediary power.

intermediary

/ 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

adjective

1. acting as an intermediary
2. situated, acting, or coming between; intermediate

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermediary¹

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

Example Sentences

Instead, Liang pointed to the possibility that the virus jumped across species in nature through intermediary hosts such as pangolins, cats or minks.

From Washington Post

He reached out to Podhorzer, through an intermediary both men declined to name.

From Time

Clearing houses — the intermediary between stock buyers and sellers — are in the headlines in a way they haven't been since the 2008 financial crisis.

From Axios

A multi-state antitrust suit filed in December claimed Google uses its “massive information advantage strategically to harm any publisher who refuses to use its intermediaries.”

From Digiday

Tapjoy’s business model has been to serve as an intermediary between advertisers, gamers and game developers.

From TechCrunch

He is the intermediary between the human world and the spiritual world.

From The Daily Beast

Had the term not already been taken, Obama might well have called his intermediary path the “third way.”

From The Daily Beast

The second is the possibility of an intermediary agreement in case a final status agreement will not be possible.

From The Daily Beast

Local jurisdictions have also created intermediary programs.

From The Daily Beast

So the predator priest (who could sign) was actually an intermediary between the kids and their parents.

From The Daily Beast

Austria, however, had a considerable quantity on hand, and these an intermediary proposed I should buy.

From Project Gutenberg

Permit me to say, monsieur, that you must also have heard of me through some other intermediary than mutual friends.

From Project Gutenberg

Deposits can be made by the intermediary of rural postmen to the extent of 500 florins.

From Project Gutenberg

It will be noticed that Nelson was practically the intermediary between the two commanders-in-chief.

From Project Gutenberg

This might be explained away on the ground that the intermediary colors are blends of the extreme colors.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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