mediate
MEE-dee-ayt
/ˈmiːdieɪt/
To act as a go-between to help two parties reach an agreement.
Mediation is collaborative; the mediator does not force a decision but facilitates a conversation.
The story behind the word. Rooted in the Latin 'mediatus', meaning 'placed in the middle'. It perfectly describes the physical and metaphorical position of someone standing between two opposing sides.
Word relationships
- facilitate: Facilitate is broader, meaning to make any process easier, not just a dispute.
- provoke: Provoking starts or worsens a conflict, whereas mediating seeks to end it.
Commonly confused with
- meditate: Meditate is a mental exercise for relaxation; mediate is a social exercise for resolution.
Word family
- mediation (noun): The act or process of mediating.
- mediator (noun): A person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement.
Collocations
- mediate a settlement
- mediate between
- attempt to mediate
Example sentences
- "The UN was asked to mediate the peace talks between the warring factions." Global politics
- "The couple chose to mediate their divorce to avoid a lengthy and expensive court battle." Family law
Memory hook
The 'med' in mediate is like the 'med' in medium or middle—you are the middleman. Mediate = Middleman.
When not to use
Do not use when a judge is making a final ruling; that is adjudicating or arbitrating.
Fun facts
- Mediation is one of the oldest forms of dispute resolution, documented in Ancient Greek and Phoenician cultures.
Related words
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