intermediate

1 of 4

adjective

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət 

1

: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

2

: of or relating to an intermediate school

an intermediate curriculum

intermediately adverb

intermediateness noun

intermediate

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

: one that is intermediate

2

: mediator, go-between

3

a

: a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products

b

: a usually short-lived chemical species formed in a reaction as an intermediate step between the starting material and the final product

4

: an automobile larger than a compact but smaller than a full-sized automobile

intermediate

3 of 4

verb

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ˌāt 

intermediated; intermediating; intermediates

intransitive verb

1

: intervene, interpose

2

: to act as an intermediate

intermediateness

4 of 4

noun (2)

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being intermediate

Synonyms of intermediate

Adjective

• average
• median
• moderate

Noun (1)

• intermediary
• mediator
• buffer
• negotiator
• broker
• liaison
• ambassador
• honest broker
• middleman

Verb

• intervene
• interfere

Examples of intermediate in a Sentence

Adjective

an intermediate stage of growth

I'm taking intermediate French this year.

Noun (1)

she often used her father as an intermediate in arguments with her mother

Verb

if the secretary-general chooses to intermediate in this dispute, he'll need all of his diplomatic skills just to get both sides in the same room

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While floating-rate and short-duration instruments offer attractive yields with no or minimal interest-rate risk, investors can pick up some additional income by moving out slightly longer to intermediate-term bonds. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

IonQ attributes this feat to its dual decoder architecture, where the first decoder extracts the initial syndrome measurements while the second decoder corrects the residual errors after refining the intermediate representation. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Noun

Still, integrating the chemical intermediates and finished fiber within one production system could remove a barrier to adoption if Hyosung can supply the material at the volumes, consistency and price brands require. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

What is the right combination of short tracks, intermediates, road courses? — Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Verb

Fittingly, a local agent of the Ford Motor Company intermediated the first negotiations in the early 1930s for Standard Oil of California’s rights to Saudi oil. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026

Among an internet that’s more automated and intermediated by artificial intelligence, trust becomes the defining factor in every interaction. — Sammy Ahmed, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intermediatus, from Latin intermedius, from inter- + medius mid, middle — more at mid

Verb

Medieval Latin intermediatus, past participle of intermediare, from Latin inter- + Late Latin mediare to mediate

First Known Use

Adjective

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing intermediate

• intermediate host
• intermediate school
• intermediate vector boson

Rhymes for intermediate

• immediate
• remediate

Kids Definition

intermediate

adjective

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate

ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət

: being or occurring in the middle or between extremes

intermediate noun

intermediately adverb

Etymology

Adjective

Middle Latin intermediatus "intermediate," derived from Latin inter- "among, in the midst" and medius "middle" — related to median entry 1

Medical Definition

intermediate

1 of 2 adjective

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌint-ər-ˈmēd-ē-ət 

: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

the remaining subjects progressed to some intermediate stage of disease

—R. R. Redfield et al.

intermediate

2 of 2 noun

: one that is intermediate

especially : a chemical compound synthesized from simpler compounds and usually intended to be used in later syntheses of more complex products

pharmaceutical intermediates

Legal Definition

intermediate

adjective

in·​ter·​me·​di·​ate ˌin-tər-ˈmē-dē-ət 

1

: being or occurring at the middle place, stage, or degree or between extremes

an intermediate order

2

: of, relating to, or being a level of judicial scrutiny to ensure equal protection of the laws that is applied to a statute involving classification of persons and that is more intensive than the rational basis test and not as severe as strict scrutiny

intermediate review

intermediate scrutiny

intermediately adverb