middleman

noun

mid·​dle·​man ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌman How to pronounce middleman (audio)
: an intermediary or agent between two parties
especially : a dealer, agent, or company intermediate between the producer of goods and the retailer or consumer

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At Ukrainian Railways, for example, simply cutting out middlemen from fuel and electricity procurement saved $300 million in one year. Oleksandr Kubrakov, TIME, 13 Feb. 2025 A week prior to the burglary, one of the suspects was in contact with a man accused of acting as a middleman to sell luxury items burgled from wealthy homeowners, according to federal prosecutors. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2025 Its fastest growing export markets are countries in the global South, including Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, many of which are acting as middlemen by processing Chinese materials and exporting the finished goods to the United States. Yun Sun, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2025 Nick’s infiltrated the gang posing as low-level bruiser Donny Rico, but the guy calling the shots, Roman (Steven Flynn), is only the middleman. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for middleman 

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of middleman was in 1677

Dictionary Entries Near middleman

Cite this Entry

“Middleman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middleman. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

middleman

noun
mid·​dle·​man ˈmid-ᵊl-ˌman How to pronounce middleman (audio)
: go-between
especially : a dealer between the producer of goods and the consumer

More from Merriam-Webster on middleman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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