# fixer

/ˈfɪksɝ/ (US) · /fˈɪksɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fixer
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. problem solver

noun · CEFR B2

a person who arranges things or solves difficult problems for others, often behind the scenes.

For teachers: an agent who facilitates a desired result, often by navigating complex social, political, or logistical systems.

- The company hired a local fixer to help them navigate the complicated building laws.
- The CEO relied on a discreet fixer to handle the delicate negotiations before the merger became public knowledge.

### 2. illicit agent

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who uses illegal or dishonest ways to get a specific result, like bribing officials.

For teachers: a person who secures immunity or specific outcomes through improper or unlawful means, such as bribery or extortion.

- The politician was caught talking to a known fixer about the court case.
- The investigation revealed a network of fixers who had been tampering with the jury to ensure an acquittal for the mob boss.

### 3. journalism assistant

noun · CEFR B2

a local person who helps foreign journalists with travel, language, and finding people to interview.

For teachers: a local professional who assists foreign journalists in volatile regions by providing interpretation, transport, and vital connections.

- Without our fixer, we never would have been able to interview the villagers safely.
- Experienced foreign correspondents know that a reliable fixer is the most valuable asset when reporting from a conflict zone.

### 4. photography chemical

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a chemical used when developing film to make the image permanent.

For teachers: a chemical solution, typically sodium thiosulfate, used in photographic processing to stabilise the image by removing unexposed silver halides.

- Make sure you leave the film in the fixer for the full five minutes.
- If the fixer is exhausted, the photographic prints will eventually discolour when exposed to ambient light.

### 5. a house needing repair

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a house that is in bad condition and needs to be repaired or decorated.

For teachers: a property that requires extensive renovation or repair, often purchased at a lower price for investment purposes.

- They bought a real fixer in the suburbs and spent every weekend painting it.
- The couple decided to purchase a fixer in a gentrifying neighbourhood, hoping the sweat equity would pay off in a few years.

## Examples

- The politician hired a fixer to handle the scandal quietly.
- When the foreign journalists arrived in the war zone, they immediately hired a local fixer to arrange transport and interviews.
- While the term often carries a negative connotation of backroom deals, a fixer in international reporting is an essential professional who navigates complex bureaucracy and cultural barriers for visiting media.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.