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

There could also be a bipartisan pushback on the rising cost of hospital care as well as pharmacy benefit managers, which act as middlemen to negotiate drug prices and rebates on behalf of insurers and employers. — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

But the savings were small, and its drug-middleman business — known as a pharmacy-benefit manager — became a political drag. — semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026

For more than 100 years, the film industry depended on selling movie tickets; Netflix’s agenda was to cut out the middleman and make subscribing to the service feel as obligatory as owning a smartphone. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2026

Llusia-Lindh immediately cut out the middlemen, went directly to factories and aspired to make a luxury product while keeping a lid on prices — and giving back. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 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