moderator

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a person who leads a public discussion or debate to make sure it stays fair and organized.

n. a neutral participant who presides over a debate or panel discussion to regulate the flow of conversation and enforce time limits.

“The moderator asked both candidates to stop talking when their time was up.”

“A skilled moderator can steer a heated political debate back toward substantive issues when the participants begin to trade personal insults.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun British English · Formal

n. a person who checks that different teachers are marking exams in the same fair way.

n. an official who monitors the marking of examinations by different examiners to ensure consistency and adherence to national standards.

“The external moderator reviewed the students' essays to check the grades were fair.”

“After the initial marking phase, a moderator was appointed to resolve the discrepancies between the two internal assessors' scores.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a substance, like water or graphite, used in a nuclear reactor to slow down particles.

n. a medium used in a nuclear reactor to reduce the velocity of fast neutrons, thereby increasing the probability of further fission reactions.

“Graphite is often used as a moderator in certain types of nuclear power plants.”

“The reactor's design relies on heavy water acting as a moderator to maintain a stable and controlled chain reaction.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal

n. the person in charge of a meeting or group in the Presbyterian church.

n. the presiding officer of a synod or general assembly within the Presbyterian ecclesiastical tradition.

“The Moderator of the General Assembly opened the meeting with a prayer.”

“Each year, the synod elects a new moderator to oversee the administrative and spiritual functions of the regional church body.”