mediate

American  

[mee-dee-eyt, mee-dee-it] / ˈmi diˌeɪt, ˈmi di ɪt /

verb (used with object)

mediates, present (3rd person singular) mediated, past participle, past mediating present participle

1. to settle (disputes, strikes, etc.) as an intermediary between parties; reconcile.

   Synonyms:

   arbitrate

2. to bring about (an agreement, accord, truce, peace, etc.) as an intermediary between parties by compromise, reconciliation, removal of misunderstanding, etc.

   Synonyms:

   arbitrate

3. to effect (a result) or convey (a message, gift, etc.) by or as if by an intermediary.

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verb (used without object)

mediates, present (3rd person singular) mediated, past participle, past mediating present participle

1. to act between parties to effect an agreement, compromise, reconciliation, etc.

   Synonyms:

   intervene, intercede

2. to occupy an intermediate place or position.

adjective

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

mediate British  

verb

1. (intr; usually foll by between or in) to intervene (between parties or in a dispute) in order to bring about agreement

2. to bring about (an agreement)

3. to bring about (an agreement) between parties in a dispute

4. to resolve (differences) by mediation

5. (intr) to be in a middle or intermediate position

6. (tr) to serve as a medium for causing (a result) or transferring (objects, information, etc)

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adjective

1. occurring as a result of or dependent upon mediation

2. a rare word for intermediate

3. logic (of an inference) having more than one premise, esp, being syllogistic in form

mediate Scientific  

/ mē′dē-āt′ /

1. To effect or convey a force between subatomic particles. The gauge bosons, for example, mediate the four fundamental forces of nature.

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Usage

What does mediate mean? Mediate means to help to settle a dispute or create agreement when there is conflict between two or more people or groups by acting as an intermediary or go-between for those parties. A person who acts as an intermediary or go-between in this way can be called a mediator. The act or process of mediating is called mediation. Mediation always involves a mediator acting as an impartial third party to guide the communication between the conflicting parties. Sometimes, mediation happens in an informal way. You might help two friends by mediating their argument. But the word is perhaps most commonly used in more specific ways in formal situations, such as when a mediator mediates a labor dispute between a company and its striking employees or when a mediator mediates a divorce for two spouses. When mediation occurs in an official or legal context, such as when it has been ordered by a judge, it is often called arbitration. Arbitration usually involves a decision that the parties are bound by. Mediation is typically less formal and usually involves suggestions for settling differences, as opposed to binding decisions. Example: I know you two have your differences, so I’d like to mediate a meeting to see if you can come to an understanding.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mediateness
  noun
• mediator
  noun
• mediative
  adjective
• self-mediating
  adjective
• unmediating
  adjective
• mediately
  adverb
• mediatorially
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• mediating
  present
• mediated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mediate
  simple
• mediates
  simple
• have mediated
  perfect
• has mediated
  perfect
• am mediating
  progressive
• are mediating
  progressive
• is mediating
  progressive
• have been mediating
  perfect progressive
• has been mediating
  perfect progressive

Past

• mediated
  simple
• had mediated
  perfect
• was mediating
  progressive
• were mediating
  progressive
• had been mediating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mediate
  simple
• will have mediated
  perfect
• will be mediating
  progressive
• will have been mediating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mediate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre “to be in the middle, intercede”; see medium, -ate ¹

Explanation

If your two best friends aren't speaking to each other, you might find yourself trying to mediate a peace accord between them. To mediate is to go from one to another and try to make peace. Mediate derives from the Latin medius "middle," and people who mediate are in the middle, between the parties. Other things that are in the middle can be said to mediate as well. Your mind can mediate between your two conflicting personalities.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mediate mediates mediated mediating

I appreciate the Qataris and the Pakistanis trying to help mediate, but it is an altogether different thing.

From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026

If the Constitution treats all of that information as voluntarily exposed merely because third parties mediate it technologically, then the Fourth Amendment contracts dramatically without anyone ever formally rewriting it.

From Slate ● May 20, 2026

"We are now certain that grapes act as a superfood and mediate a nutrigenomic response in humans," said John Pezzuto, Ph.D.,

From Science Daily ● May 18, 2026

Rana was put on paid leave while the bank tried to mediate the claims with him, later offering him $1 million to settle them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

It was hard enough to negotiate with Scythe Faraday there, but his absence left the two of them with no one to mediate the space between.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

The hope is to become a "big fish" who mediates between the grunts and those with cash, maybe even entering polite society.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

The Geneva-based body that mediates trade disputes Friday said its Trade Barometer fell to 101.7 in June from 102.3 in January.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

One way to escape this game of chicken is when a third party mediates, offering both sides an off-ramp.

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

As journalist Franklin Foer elaborates in his acclaimed book on Biden’s presidency, The Last Politician, politics for Biden is the “means by which a society mediates its difference of opinion, allowing for peaceful coexistence.”

From Salon ● Feb. 18, 2024

As the brain mediates between sensation and motion, so the vascular system is the go-between of the organs of assimilation and the organs of dissimilation.

From Form and Function A Contribution to the History of Animal Morphology by E. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell

Recognizing that the more our lives are mediated with digital tools the harder it becomes to live without them has catalyzed less explicitly political pushes for offline attention as well.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

We’re seeing the first celebrity wedding that’s mediated almost entirely through misinformation.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

On Friday, the US also mediated the signing of a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at paving the way to a lasting peace.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Vance spoke to reporters from the Swiss alpine resort of Bürgenstock as he was about to fly back to the U.S. after weekend talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan ran into Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

Most of my communications were mediated by Melissa, who was now my deputy chief of staff and knew the contours of my life better than anyone.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Tehran has discussed its proposal to charge service fees in talks with China and Egypt, Iranian and mediating officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

"The mediating parties will continue to do their utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal," the statement said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

Pakistani military leader Syed Asim Munir has played a key role in mediating between Iran and the US following an initial round of direct negotiations in Islamabad.

From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026

Qatar is a full mediating partner, along with Pakistan, in the diplomatic attempt to restart talks.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

By my second year, it was natural for me to spend a typical day mediating between Frederick Douglass’s integration into America and Martin Delany’s escape into nationalism.

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Related Words

• arbitrate
• intercede
• interfere
• intervene
• negotiate
• resolve