middleman

noun

mid·​dle·​man ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌman 

: an intermediary or agent between two parties

especially : a dealer, agent, or company intermediate between the producer of goods and the retailer or consumer

Synonyms of middleman

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

Examples of middleman in a Sentence

The Internet helps consumers save money by buying products directly from companies and eliminating the middleman.

We've cut out the middleman and can reduce prices for our customers.

He acted as the middleman in the talks between labor and management.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carpiuc acted as a middleman, and Pochynok allegedly was recruited to record video of the fires so Lavrynovych could get paid. —ABC News, 15 June 2026

The film presents the middleman as both essential and exploitative. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 9 June 2026

Buying bonds in the secondary market, at least 100 at a time, and holding to maturity will result in middlemen costs of more like $6 a year per $100,000 invested. —William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

Game Point went to Greenlight Commodities, a specialist in renewable energy credits that has shifted to serving as a middleman for institutions looking to place bets on prediction markets. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for middleman

• businessman
• canavan
• caravan
• constantan
• dragoman
• fisherman
• handyman
• harmattan
• journeyman
• marianne
• minivan
• minuteman

Kids Definition

middleman

noun

mid·​dle·​man ˈmid-ᵊl-ˌman 

: go-between

especially : a dealer between the producer of goods and the consumer