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

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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

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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

The study, "Dietary and lifestyle factors and resilience: the role of psychological flexibility as a mediator," was published in the Journal of American College Health.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

Oman, which has been acting as a mediator between the US and Iran, called for all parties to continue having open dialogue to resolve the crisis.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

Washington often played mediator between European countries with divergent interests and historical grievances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Breandán Mac Cionnaith, a spokesperson for the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition, said they had rejected the Parades Commission mediator on the basis they were not neutral.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Perhaps he would offer to preside over the discussion, as a mediator.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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

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

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

The mediators shuttled between the two sides throughout the day and completed a round of discussions that the U.S. hopes will prove constructive and promising, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Witkoff later confirmed on X that the talks had been held "through the mediators, who shuttled between the two sides throughout the day".

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

But when Inkatha was informed that the election date was not subject to mediation, they refused to see the mediators, who left without talking to anyone.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

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

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