ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intermediary

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪnɝˈmidiɛɹi// UK //ˌɪntəmˈiːdiːəɹi// in·ter·me·di·ary

n. a person or organization that acts as a link between two groups. You use this when two sides cannot or will not talk to each other directly.

n. a person or entity acting as a mediator or link between two parties, typically to facilitate communication or negotiation. Often implies a neutral or professional role in resolving disputes or managing transactions.


SIMPLE

The lawyer acted as an intermediary between the two families.

CONTEXTUAL

The bank serves as a financial intermediary, moving money from savers to borrowers in a secure way.

COMPLEX

Diplomatic efforts stalled until a neutral third-party state agreed to serve as an intermediary, allowing the warring factions to exchange terms without meeting face-to-face.

Synonyms
Origin

From French intermédiaire, adjusted to simulate a borrowing from Medieval Latin *intermediārius.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'act as', 'serve as', or 'function as'.

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