mediator

American  

[mee-dee-ay-ter] / ˈmi diˌeɪ tər /

noun

• mediators
  plural

1. a person who mediates, especially between parties at variance.

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Usage

What does mediator mean? A mediator is a person who mediates—helps 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. 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 act as a mediator for 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 and is performed by an arbitrator. 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 act as a mediator while you talk it out and try to come to an understanding.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mediatorship
  noun
• undermediator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• mediators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of mediator

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Anglo-French mediatur, Old French mediatour, from Latin mediātor “go-between, intermediary”; see mediate, -tor

Explanation

A mediator is a person who helps negotiate between two feuding parties. When a married couple is considering getting divorced, they sometimes hire a mediator to help them come to an agreement, and possibly even avoid divorce. The word mediator goes back to the Latin word medius, which means middle. A mediator is supposed to remain in the neutral middle rather than taking one side over another, in order to help both sides resolve a dispute. Mediators negotiate between employers and employees, disputing couples, and in schools helping kids work out their conflicts peacefully rather than fighting on the playground or lunchroom.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mediator mediators

On Tuesday the residents' spokesperson Breandan Mac Cionnaith described the prospect of mediation as "dead in the water", having said Monday that residents would be open to a process involving an international mediator.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

On Sunday night, Sir Chris responded to the SDLP's call for an international mediator in relation to the dispute, and said he is "giving consideration to anything that anybody comes up with".

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Newsom was concerned Bonta would lose at trial and at times acted as an unofficial mediator between the two sides, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

It is also a key mediator in peace talks between the US and Iran, meaning a breakdown in its relationship with either country could make finding a solution to the conflict even more challenging.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Whereas at school the primary mediator was Christ, at home that role was assumed by the Mexican Virgin, Nuestra Seriora de Guadalupe, the focus of devotion and pride for Mexican Catholics.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Her fears have only heightened as personal computers, instant messages, and social platforms became the default mediators for everyday human relationships.

From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2026

The fresh negotiations would be conducted through Qatari mediators, Axios added.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the proposal had been transmitted to U.S. officials through mediators.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Meyer was one of the chief mediators to end white-minority rule known as apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

Unlike the negotiations preceding new dispensations in African states like Zimbabwe and Angola, which required outside mediators, we in South Africa were settling our differences among ourselves.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• advocate
• arbiter
• arbitrator
• broker
• go-between
• intermediary
• judge
• negotiator
• peacemaker
• referee
• troubleshooter