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intermediary
/ˌɪn.təˈmiː.di.ə.ri/
go-between
The bank acted as an intermediary between the borrower and the lender.
The bank facilitated communication and transactions between two parties.
formal
A person or organization that acts as a link between people or groups to facilitate communication or transactions.
The real estate agent served as an intermediary in the property sale.
The agent helped negotiate terms between the buyer and seller.
Diplomats often act as intermediaries in international conflicts.
They help resolve disputes by facilitating dialogue.
Used in business, law, diplomacy, and technology contexts.
formal
Occurring between two points or stages; intermediate.
The intermediary stage of the process involves data verification.
This step comes after initial setup but before final approval.
Common in technical, medical, and engineering contexts.
Collocations
act as an intermediaryto serve in a facilitating role between partiesintermediary rolethe function of connecting or mediating
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid Redundancy
Do not pair 'intermediary' with 'middle' (e.g., 'middle intermediary'). The word itself implies a middle position.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'intermediary' for people or organizations that actively facilitate communication or transactions, not for passive observers.
Word Origin
From Latin *intermedius* (lying between), from *inter-* (between) + *medius* (middle). First recorded in English in the mid-16th century.
Usage Notes
Avoid using 'intermediary' to describe a person who is merely present but not actively facilitating. The role implies active involvement in bridging gaps.
Word Breakdown
inter-
between
prefix-medi-
middle
root-ary
relating to
suffixEnglish Dictionary