middleman

noun

mid·​dle·​man ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌman 

: an intermediary or agent between two parties

especially : a dealer, agent, or company intermediate between the producer of goods and the retailer or consumer

Synonyms

• broker
• buffer
• conciliator
• go-between
• honest broker
• interceder
• intercessor
• intermediary
• intermediate
• interposer
• mediator
• peacemaker

Examples of middleman in a Sentence

The Internet helps consumers save money by buying products directly from companies and eliminating the middleman.

We've cut out the middleman and can reduce prices for our customers.

He acted as the middleman in the talks between labor and management.

Recent Examples on the Web

The cable company saves money up front by not having to pay its employees to do the work and passes on the risk of lost or stolen cards to the middleman. —Next Avenue, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Drug middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers — which negotiate drug discounts with manufacturers on behalf of insurance plans — also put pressure on other parts of the system. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024

These health care middlemen, responsible for negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies, are often accused of with raising the costs of drugs for consumers. —Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

No middlemen, no outdated systems—just majority rules. —Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

middleman

noun

mid·​dle·​man ˈmid-ᵊl-ˌman 

: go-between

especially : a dealer between the producer of goods and the consumer