mediate
1 of 2adjective
me·di·ate ˈmē-dē-ət 
1
: occupying a middle position
2
a
: acting through an intervening agency
b
: exhibiting indirect causation, connection, or relation
the disease spreads by mediate as well as direct contact 
Veterinary Record
Veterinary Record mediacy
ˈmē-dē-ə-sē
noun mediately adverb
mediate
2 of 2verb
me·di·ate ˈmē-dē-ˌāt
mediated; mediating
transitive verb
1
a
: to bring accord out of by action as an intermediary (see intermediary entry 1 sense 1a)
endeavored to mediate East-West differences on several important issues Collier's Year Book
Collier's Year Book b
: to effect by action as an intermediary (see intermediary entry 1 sense 1a)
mediated a settlement that was satisfactory to both sides
2
a
: to act as intermediary (see intermediary entry 2 sense 2) agent in bringing, effecting, or communicating : convey
individuals … mediate the culture to the child Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead b
: to transmit as intermediate mechanism or agency
intransitive verb
1
: to interpose between parties in order to reconcile (see reconcile sense 1a) them
2
: to reconcile (see reconcile sense 1b) differences
mediative
ˈmē-dē-ˌā-tiv
adjective mediatory
ˈmē-dē-ə-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective 
Did you know?
Mediation is often used in disputes between companies and labor unions, and the government actually provides mediators for such disagreements. The mediator tries to bring the two sides to an agreement, but doesn't have the power to actually order such an agreement. Mediators also sometimes have a role in international disputes; when two neighboring countries claim exclusive fishing rights in the same ocean waters, for example, they may invite a trained mediator to help settle the argument. Arbitration is similar to mediation, but in arbitration both parties in a dispute agree to accept the arbitrator's decision.
Synonyms
Adjective
- central
- halfway
- intermediary
- intermediate
- medial
- median
- medium
- mid
- middle
- midmost
Verb
- intercede
- intermediate
- interpose
- intervene
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective has a black-and-white view of human nature, believing that there is no mediate state between good and evil Verb He has been appointed to mediate the dispute. He is attempting to mediate a settlement between the company and the striking workers. Negotiators are trying to mediate a cease-fire.
Recent Examples on the Web Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022 The site of your injury swells as your blood flow increases and your body ramps up the production of cytokines, a type of protein that helps mediate inflammation. Outside Online, 17 Feb. 2021 This includes Melon Kitchen, a vendor that acts as a ghost kitchen and helps mediate restaurant start-up costs for budding Black chefs. Cate Charron, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2022 Raji calls for creating an audit oversight board within a federal agency to do things like enforce standards or mediate disputes between auditors and companies. Khari Johnson, Wired, 2 Dec. 2021 Violence prevention advocates have been working to defuse situations, mediate conflicts and distribute free gun locks. Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2021 The documentary also showed interviews with residents who carry guns for protection but did not use footage of residents who have created community programs meant to keep children safe and mediate disputes. Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2021 Police forces fight terrorism abroad, perform homeless services, work with children in schools, respond to calls for mental health crises, perform social work and welfare checks, mediate domestic disputes, and respond to drug overdoses. Nicole Goodkind, Fortune, 25 May 2021 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators mediate communication between neurons and between neurons and non-neural cells. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2021 Brittany Freeman, ProPublica, 30 Aug. 2022 Someone with the training to deal with complex emotions, the expertise to mediate disputes and the ability to assess the key psychological variables at play are all necessary ingredients for successful solutions. Mark Sirkin, Forbes, 11 July 2022 The United States, in particular, has singlehandedly blocked appointments to the WTO's appeals court, which aims to mediate trade disputes. Jamey Keaten, ajc, 16 June 2022 Erdogan is trying to mediate the conflict, and plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Harold Maass, The Week, 19 Aug. 2022 Egypt, which shares a border with Israel and Gaza, often helps mediate peace between the two neighbors. Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 6 Aug. 2022 Lapid's predecessor, Naftali Bennett, attempted to mediate peace early in the war, holdings separate talks with Putin and Zelenskyy. Paul Best, Fox News, 24 July 2022 Because of how things escalated, Lisa Rinna stepped in to mediate. Amanda Taylor, PEOPLE.com, 21 July 2022 Brewster helps mediate any issues that arise in the garden – a missing seed bag, a disagreement about how to handle compost or a decision clashing with cultural beliefs. San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2022 See More
Adjective
Sometimes referred to as the nurse practitioners of the law industry, legal service providers offer a less expensive way to file documents and mediate disputes in civil court than hiring a lawyer. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 20 Aug. 2022 The site of your injury swells as your blood flow increases and your body ramps up the production of cytokines, a type of protein that helps mediate inflammation. Outside Online, 17 Feb. 2021 This includes Melon Kitchen, a vendor that acts as a ghost kitchen and helps mediate restaurant start-up costs for budding Black chefs. Cate Charron, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2022 Raji calls for creating an audit oversight board within a federal agency to do things like enforce standards or mediate disputes between auditors and companies. Khari Johnson, Wired, 2 Dec. 2021 Violence prevention advocates have been working to defuse situations, mediate conflicts and distribute free gun locks. Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2021 The documentary also showed interviews with residents who carry guns for protection but did not use footage of residents who have created community programs meant to keep children safe and mediate disputes. Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2021 Police forces fight terrorism abroad, perform homeless services, work with children in schools, respond to calls for mental health crises, perform social work and welfare checks, mediate domestic disputes, and respond to drug overdoses. Nicole Goodkind, Fortune, 25 May 2021 Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators mediate communication between neurons and between neurons and non-neural cells. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2021 Verb
Mastino, too, lamented the current lack of a regulatory system to mediate HOA disputes without litigation. Brittany Freeman, ProPublica, 30 Aug. 2022 Someone with the training to deal with complex emotions, the expertise to mediate disputes and the ability to assess the key psychological variables at play are all necessary ingredients for successful solutions. Mark Sirkin, Forbes, 11 July 2022 The United States, in particular, has singlehandedly blocked appointments to the WTO's appeals court, which aims to mediate trade disputes. Jamey Keaten, ajc, 16 June 2022 Erdogan is trying to mediate the conflict, and plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Harold Maass, The Week, 19 Aug. 2022 Egypt, which shares a border with Israel and Gaza, often helps mediate peace between the two neighbors. Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 6 Aug. 2022 Lapid's predecessor, Naftali Bennett, attempted to mediate peace early in the war, holdings separate talks with Putin and Zelenskyy. Paul Best, Fox News, 24 July 2022 Because of how things escalated, Lisa Rinna stepped in to mediate. Amanda Taylor, PEOPLE.com, 21 July 2022 Brewster helps mediate any issues that arise in the garden – a missing seed bag, a disagreement about how to handle compost or a decision clashing with cultural beliefs. San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Late Latin mediatus intermediate, from past participle of mediare
Verb
Medieval Latin mediatus, past participle of mediare, from Late Latin, to be in the middle, from Latin medius middle
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Medical Definition
mediate 1 of 2
adjective
me·di·ate ˈmēd-ē-ət
1
: occupying a middle position
2
: acting through an intervening agency : exhibiting indirect causation, connection, or relation
mediate
2 of 2transitive verb
me·di·ate ˈmēd-ē-ˌāt
mediated; mediating
: to transmit or carry (as a physical process or effect) as an intermediate mechanism or agency
mediating
verb
as in intervening
to act as a go-between for opposing sides their middle child is often asked to mediate between the oldest and the youngest Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- intervening
- interfering
- intermediating
- interceding
- interposing
- arbitrating
- moderating
- negotiating
- meddling
- intruding
- prying
- snooping
- obtruding
- refereeing
- invading
- butting in
- cutting in
- trespassing
- bothering
- infringing
- chiming in
- breaking (in)
- barging (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- avoiding
- ignoring
- eschewing
- shunning
- disregarding
- overlooking
- standing by