moderator
noun
mod·er·a·tor
ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər 
plural moderators
1
: someone who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion: such as
a
: the chairperson of a discussion group
b
: a person who administers an online forum, chat room, or group
c
: the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting
d
: the presiding officer of a Presbyterian governing body
2
: one who arbitrates : mediator
3
: a substance (such as graphite) used for slowing neutrons in a nuclear reactor
Examples of moderator in a Sentence
The moderator allowed audience members to ask the governor questions.
She acts as the moderator in our office meetings.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a debate for the Democratic nomination for the Senate in Iowa this month, one of the moderators, Erin Murphy, asked the candidates, Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, both state legislators, a reasonable, if downbeat, question.
—
Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Near the end of the debate, co-moderator and San Francisco Examiner editor-in-chief Schuyler Hudak Prionas groaned as candidates talked over each other while trying to answer a question that was supposed to elicit a yes or no response.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
But Hilton only gave that answer when pressed by moderators, and described it as a constitutional issue rather than one surrounding reproductive rights.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
One of the site’s moderators described the new policy on social media.
—ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderator
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Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Near the end of the debate, co-moderator and San Francisco Examiner editor-in-chief Schuyler Hudak Prionas groaned as candidates talked over each other while trying to answer a question that was supposed to elicit a yes or no response.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
But Hilton only gave that answer when pressed by moderators, and described it as a constitutional issue rather than one surrounding reproductive rights.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
One of the site’s moderators described the new policy on social media.
—ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moderator
Cite this Entry
“Moderator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moderator. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moderator
noun
mod·er·a·tor
ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər
1
: one that moderates: as
a
: the leader of a Presbyterian governing body
b
: the chairperson of a town meeting
c
: the chairperson of a discussion group (as on television)
2
: a substance (as graphite) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor
Medical Definition
moderator
noun
mod·er·a·tor
ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər
: a substance (as graphite, deuterium in heavy water, or beryllium) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor
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