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

The Gryffindor and Slytherin maintain a traditional rivalry, the Ravenclaw nerds out about magical history and the Hufflepuff attempts to mediate them all.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

That result provided additional evidence that the receptor helps mediate at least some of coffee's biological effects.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026

The US president refers to Munir as his "favourite field marshal", following their acquaintance in the aftermath of conflict with India that Trump helped mediate last year.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

For Rice, the answer is that smartphones mediate the world through a screen—swiping, recording, editing, posting and sharing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

In a tribe, where many people are still close relatives and everyone at least knows everybody else by name, mutual relatives and mutual friends mediate the quarrel.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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

Another important concept that emerges is that of a “resource bargain,” which mediates how the different parts relate to each other.

From Salon ● Apr. 26, 2025

It must be attributed a lesser distance than formerly and therefore the sudden increase in brightness mediates a consciousness of a movement forward, that is, toward the observer.

From Visual Illusions Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications by Matthew Luckiesh

M and the writer move through highly mediated spaces that amplify certain features and downgrade others, a kind of edited, hyperreal landscape.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

During the fourth decade of warming, they observed that stable portions of soil organic matter, once believed to resist warming mediated decomposition, also began to break down.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

In his excellent 2022 collection, “Reward System,” Jem Calder explored the trials of digitally mediated romance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Statistically, part of that ultimate effect of history proves to be mediated by the familiar proximate causes of good institutions.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Kuwait recently signed a new defense pact with Pakistan, which has played a mediating role in seeking to halt the U.S.-Iran conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

But officials in mediating countries said they were incensed by Tehran’s rejection of the Oman plan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Aside from the Qatari delegation visiting Iran, Qatar's emir on Friday held a call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which has also been mediating, according to Sharif's office.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

Qatar has played a key role alongside Pakistan in mediating a conclusion to the conflict, with the most recent discussions between Tehran and Washington taking place on June 21 with all four countries in attendance.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

Right after the war, the Jews’ Haganah mediating body stepped up the longtime negotiations with the British.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Related Words

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