Dictionary.com
definitions

mediate

[ verb mee-dee-eyt; adjective mee-dee-it ]
/ verb ˈmi diˌeɪt; adjective ˈmi di ɪt /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mediate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), me·di·at·ed, me·di·at·ing.

to settle (disputes, strikes, etc.) as an intermediary between parties; reconcile.
to bring about (an agreement, accord, truce, peace, etc.) as an intermediary between parties by compromise, reconciliation, removal of misunderstanding, etc.
to effect (a result) or convey (a message, gift, etc.) by or as if by an intermediary.

verb (used without object), me·di·at·ed, me·di·at·ing.

to act between parties to effect an agreement, compromise, reconciliation, etc.
to occupy an intermediate place or position.

adjective

acting through, dependent on, or involving an intermediate agency; not direct or immediate.

RELATED CONTENT

gendervoidRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Celebrating 20 Years Of Word Of The Day!To celebrate this vigesimal birthday, we took a stroll through the Word of the Day archives to see what words were featured on notable dates and reflect on some of the memorable moments and trends of the last two decades.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

resolve, intercede, intervene, negotiate, interfere, arbitrate, settle, reconcile, deal, conciliate, referee, interpose, umpire, intermediate, moderate, propitiate

Nearby words

  1. mediastinoscope,
  2. mediastinoscopy,
  3. mediastinotomy,
  4. mediastinum,
  5. mediastinum testis,
  6. mediate auscultation,
  7. mediate percussion,
  8. mediated generalization,
  9. mediation,
  10. mediative

Origin of mediate

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre to be in the middle, intercede. See medium, -ate1
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mediate

British Dictionary definitions for mediate

mediate

verb (ˈmiːdɪˌeɪt)

adjective (ˈmiːdɪɪt)

Derived Forms

Word Origin for mediate

C16: from Late Latin mediāre to be in the middle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mediate

mediate

v.

1540s, "divide in two equal parts," probably a back-formation from mediation or mediator, or else from Latin mediatus, past participle of mediare. Meaning "act as a mediator" is from 1610s; that of "settle by mediation" is from 1560s. Related: Mediated, mediates, mediating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for mediate

mediate

[ mē′dē-āt′ ]

v.

To effect or convey as an intermediate agent or mechanism.

adj.

Being in a middle position.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for mediate

mediate

[ mē′dē-āt′ ]

To effect or convey a force between subatomic particles. The gauge bosons, for example, mediate the four fundamental forces of nature.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.