middleman

American  

[mid-l-man] / ˈmɪd lˌmæn /

noun

plural

middlemen

1. a person who plays an economic role intermediate between producer and retailer or consumer.

2. a person who acts as an intermediary.

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middleman British  

/ ˈmɪdəlˌmæn /

noun

1. an independent trader engaged in the distribution of goods from producer to consumer

2. an intermediary

3. theatre the interlocutor in minstrel shows

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Etymology

Origin of middleman

1400–50; late Middle English: maker of girdles; middle, man

Example Sentences

How often does a president have the opportunity to speak to the American people directly, without a middleman?

From The Wall Street Journal

Palantir bears have argued that the company is just an “AI wrapper” on top of existing large language models, making its technology a middleman that could be easily replaced or cut out.

From MarketWatch

They have done their homework, found the factory, and cut out the middleman.

From Barron's

Drug companies sell most of their medicines through a web of middlemen—wholesalers, pharmacy-benefit managers, and insurers—that use inflated list prices and rebate schemes.

From The Wall Street Journal

The plan includes a pledge to remove "kickbacks" to middlemen.

From BBC

Related Words

• go-between
• mediator
• wholesaler