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Since inter- means "between, among", an intermediary is someone who moves back and forth in the middle area between two sides—a "go-between". Mediator (which shares the medi- root) is often a synonym, and so is facilitator; broker and agent are often others. Thus, a real-estate broker or agent shuttles between a house's buyer and seller, who may never even meet each other. Financial intermediation is what happens when you put money in a bank or investment firm, which then invests it in various companies; if you want, you can instead cut out the intermediary and invest the money directly in companies of your own choosing.
Examples of intermediary in a Sentence
Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 13 May 2026
Islamabad has attempted to navigate both sides of the crisis — presenting itself to Washington as a stabilizing intermediary while avoiding steps that could alienate Tehran or China, Iran's most powerful international backer.
—James Laporta, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 May 2026
In one example disclosed by Xinhua, a consumer paid 252 yuan ($35) for a six-inch cake, but the order was quietly resold through an intermediary platform where vendors bid 100, 90 and 80 yuan to fulfill it, with the lowest bidder winning.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for intermediary
Cite this Entry
“Intermediary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermediary. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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intermediary
noun
