intermediary

/,intə'mi:djəri/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

The intermediary helped the two business partners reach an agreement.

Definition

Noun:
- A negotiator who acts as a link between parties: An intermediary is a person or organization that helps two other parties who are in disagreement or negotiation to communicate and reach an agreement. They act as a go-between or a mediator.
- A means or channel of communication: Something that serves as an intermediate agent or medium.

Usage

The word "intermediary" is primarily used as a countable noun.
It describes a role that facilitates interaction, negotiation, or communication between separate entities, such as people, groups, companies, or governments.
It often implies a neutral or facilitating position.

Examples

As a person/organization:
- The United Nations often acts as an intermediary in international conflicts.
- We communicated through an intermediary because direct talks had failed.
As a means/channel:
- Language is the essential intermediary for human thought and communication.
- The website serves as an intermediary connecting buyers and sellers.

Advanced Usage

"to act as an intermediary": to perform the role of a mediator or go-between.
- The diplomat agreed to act as an intermediary between the warring factions.
"through the intermediary of": by means of; via.
- The message was delivered through the intermediary of a trusted courier.

Variants and Related Words

Intermediate (adj): occurring between two points or stages.
- She has an intermediate level of French.
Intermediation (n): the act of intervening or mediating.
- The process requires professional intermediation.
Mediator (n): a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement. (This is a close synonym for the primary meaning of "intermediary".)

Synonyms

Mediator: A neutral party who helps resolve disputes.
Go-between: A person who acts as a messenger or negotiator between parties.
Liaison: A person who maintains communication and cooperation between groups.
Broker: An agent who buys and sells goods or arranges deals for others.

Antonyms

Related Phrases/Idioms

Middleman: (Often used in business contexts) A person who buys goods from producers and sells them to retailers or consumers.
- We cut costs by eliminating the middleman and buying directly from the factory.
Act as a bridge: To serve as a connection between two different groups or ideas.
- Her research acts as a bridge between theory and practice.

The intermediary helped the two business partners reach an agreement.

Noun

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