mediate
MEE-dee-ayt
Mediate (verb) means to help two opposing sides reach an agreement by acting as a neutral go-between. Example: “A retired judge was brought in to mediate the dispute between the two companies.”
verb
1
To help two opposing sides reach an agreement by acting as a neutral go-between.
"A retired judge was brought in to mediate the dispute between the two companies."
"Their friend tried to mediate after the brothers stopped speaking to each other."
adj
1
Acting through an intermediate step or agent rather than directly.
"The effect was mediate rather than immediate, working through several intervening causes."
How to use mediate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo step in between two disagreeing parties and help them settle things.
Common mistake
Easy to mix up with "meditate" (to reflect quietly) — mediate is about resolving a dispute between people.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mediate a dispute
mediate between parties
mediate a settlement
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- mediates
- Past tense
- mediated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A retired judge was brought in to _____ the dispute between the two companies.
Etymology
From Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre ("to be in the middle"), from medius ("middle").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mediate
See all rhymes for mediate →Frequently asked questions
What does “mediate” mean?
The word “mediate” means to help two opposing sides reach an agreement by acting as a neutral go-between. In plain terms, to step in between two disagreeing parties and help them settle things.
How do you pronounce “mediate”?
“Mediate” is pronounced MEE-dee-ayt (/ˈmidieɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mediate” in a sentence?
Here is “mediate” used in a sentence: “A retired judge was brought in to mediate the dispute between the two companies.”
What part of speech is “mediate”?
Depending on how it is used, “mediate” can be a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “mediate” come from?
The word “mediate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin mediātus, past participle of mediāre ("to be in the middle"), from medius ("middle").
Is “mediate” a common word?
“Mediate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “mediate” have?
“Mediate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to help two opposing sides reach an agreement by acting as a neutral go-between.
