middleman

noun mid·dle·man \ ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌman \

Definition of middleman

: an intermediary or agent between two parties; especially : a dealer, agent, or company intermediate between the producer of goods and the retailer or consumer

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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 of middleman from the Web

These middlemen took off in the 2000s by promising to cut drug prices through aggregating demand and negotiating discounts with Big Pharma.

— The Economist, "A merger between CVS Health and Aetna could be what the doctor ordered," 4 Nov. 2017
Investigators uncovered a scheme in which Adidas executive Jim Gatto, working with a cabal of athletic middlemen, allegedly used bribes to lure high-school standouts to at least two colleges the sportswear giant sponsored.

— tracy connor, NBC News, "Rick Pitino Blames Bribery Scandal on a ‘Few Bad Actors’," 27 Sep. 2017
According to the indictment against her, Ireland, who served as a middleman helping money managers land government work, made more than $10 million in fees while Hafer ran the Treasury Department between 1997 and 2005.

— Philly.com, "Ex-Pa. Treasurer sentenced to probation for lying to feds," 31 Oct. 2017
So why did the firm suddenly insist that middleman law firm Perkins Coie release Fusion from confidentiality agreements, and spill the beans on who hired it?

— kimberley a. strassel, WSJ, "The Coming Russia Bombshells," 26 Oct. 2017
Student loan servicers, the middlemen who handle debt payments, have argued that some borrowers are simply unresponsive to calls, letters and emails to keep them from falling behind.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "The number of people defaulting on federal student loans is rising," 28 Sep. 2017
Claiming property is a very easy and straightforward process and does not require a middleman.

— jeannette lee falsey, Alaska Dispatch News, "In Alaska’s unclaimed property office, money waits in limbo," 25 Sep. 2017
The overhaul sought to create one big insurance pool for individual coverage in each state, no matter whether consumers bought plans through HealthCare.gov or traditional middlemen such as insurance brokers.

— ricardo alonso-zaldivar, The Seattle Times, "Millions who buy health insurance brace for sharp increases," 4 Sep. 2017
Mambosasa said Mashaka acted as a middleman, helping to organize the poaching gang.

— National Geographic, "Poachers Busted Following British Pilot’s Killing," 8 Feb. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'middleman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of middleman

1677

middleman Synonyms

Synonyms

broker, buffer, conciliator, go-between, intercessor, intermediary, intermediate, interposer, mediator, peacemaker;

Related Words

troubleshooter;

moderator;

bargainer, negotiant, negotiator;

appeaser, pacificator, pacifier, reconciler;

agent, attorney, deputy, factor, procurator, proxy;

liaison, medium;

arbiter, arbitrator, judge, referee, umpire;

adviser (also advisor), counselor (or counsellor);

MIDDLEMAN Defined for English Language Learners

middleman

noun

Definition of middleman for English Language Learners

: a person or company that buys goods from a producer and sells them to someone else
: a person who helps two people or groups to deal with and communicate with each other when they are not able or willing to do it themselves