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

Example Sentences

However, Iran is unlikely to have large numbers of intermediate or even long-range ballistic missiles.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Its intermediate holding company HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering is also downgraded to neutral from buy, with its target price cut by 33% to 410,000 won.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Diesel fuel increased by 13.9% month over month in February, boosting the PPI’s index for processed goods for intermediate demand by nearly 30%.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

He noted that the newly observed state represents an intermediate stage in the two-neutron emission sequence.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

While I was encouraged by their militancy, I thought that their philosophy, in its concentration on blackness, was exclusionary, and represented an intermediate view that was not fully mature.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• transitional