intermediary

1 of 2

noun

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ary ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌer-ē How to pronounce intermediary (audio)
plural intermediaries
1
2
: an intermediate form, product, or stage

intermediary

2 of 2

adjective

1
2
: acting as a mediator
an intermediary agent
an intermediary particle

Did you know?

Since inter- means "between, among", an intermediary is someone who moves back and forth in the middle area between two sides—a "go-between". Mediator (which shares the medi- root) is often a synonym, and so is facilitator; broker and agent are often others. Thus, a real-estate broker or agent shuttles between a house's buyer and seller, who may never even meet each other. Financial intermediation is what happens when you put money in a bank or investment firm, which then invests it in various companies; if you want, you can instead cut out the intermediary and invest the money directly in companies of your own choosing.

Examples of intermediary in a Sentence

Noun He served as an intermediary between the workers and the executives. in the past he's served as an intermediary in several hostage situations Adjective the bridal couple were regally ensconced in intermediary seats at the head table
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
If an order is granted, it’ll be left to the ISP or other intermediaries on how to deny consumers access to the site. Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024 The strategy is increasingly being adopted by other intermediaries, sometimes with variations through the growing apprenticeship movement and creative uses of transitional jobs. Michael Bernick, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 In the first dispute, the intermediaries are the platforms, and in the second case, the intermediaries are insurance companies. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024 In recent months, Putin suggested a ceasefire in Ukraine to pause the war, but it was rejected by the U.S. after contacts between intermediaries. Landon Mion, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024 An especially sensitive consideration for Israel is its peaceful relationship with Egypt, an important intermediary with Hamas that often cooperates with Israel on Gaza security matters. Neri Zilber, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Feb. 2024 By directly connecting these groups without the need for traditional intermediaries, Evidation is enhancing the efficiency and equity of clinical research. Seth Joseph, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 During the two-week trial, prosecutors described Chan as a crucial intermediary between Huizar, who wielded huge power over development projects at City Hall, and Chinese real estate developers looking to build high-rises in downtown Los Angeles. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024 The Living Wage for Musicians Act would create a new payment system, the Artist Compensation Royalty Fund, that circumvents record labels and other intermediaries, funneling listeners’ money directly to artists. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Kara also reveals a system of intermediary agents that connects individual miners to a diffuse array of buyers, depots, concessionaires, processors, and refining industries that all take in a share of the value of the mined cobalt. Siddharth Kara, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023 President Joe Biden’s administration unveiled an initial set of export controls in 2022 and strengthened them last October to include more technology and curb sales to intermediary nations that might undermine the ban. Jane Lanhee Lee, Fortune Asia, 5 Mar. 2024 Clarifying statutory authority is crucial to FDA oversight of third-party advertising of prescription medicines, including intermediary agencies or influencers. Sneha Dave, STAT, 22 Jan. 2024 The proposal also includes intermediary steps, such as securing Ukrainian nuclear sites, ensuring grain exports and exchanging prisoners of war. Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2024 According to Vestager, an EC investigation launched in 2021 found that Google may have favored its own ad tech services when serving as an intermediary ad exchange, matching advertiser supply and publisher demand for advertising space online. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 14 June 2023 In the first seven months of the Ukraine war, goods worth at least $777 million from Western chip manufacturers were imported into Russia via intermediary companies in countries including China, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2023 Molecular Coffee Grind In 2005, about five years after Bloch died, Brocks and colleagues reported in Nature the first hints that such intermediary molecules once existed. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 23 Oct. 2023 The company says that offering this intermediary service may make sense for interactive platforms like social networks. Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intermediary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intermediary was in 1777

Dictionary Entries Near intermediary

Cite this Entry

“Intermediary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermediary. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

intermediary

adjective
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ary
ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ˌer-ē
1
: intermediate
an intermediary stage
2
: acting as a mediator
intermediary agent
intermediary noun

Medical Definition

intermediary

noun
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ary ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ˌer-ē How to pronounce intermediary (audio)
plural intermediaries
1
2
: an intermediate form, product, or stage
intermediary adjective

Legal Definition

intermediary

noun
in·​ter·​me·​di·​ary
ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌer-ē
plural intermediaries
: one that acts as a means or go-between in a matter involving other parties
a reinsurance intermediary
see also learned intermediary
intermediary adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on intermediary

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