intermediation
Acting as middleman
Intermediation is the act of serving as a go-between in transactions or negotiations.
In finance, banks perform intermediation by taking deposits from savers and lending to borrowers—connecting parties who might not find each other directly.
Financial intermediation reduces transaction costs for everyone involved.
The term appears most often in economics and business contexts, where intermediaries add value by matching buyers with sellers, managing risk, or providing expertise that neither party possesses independently.
Agent linking two parties
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- agentOne who acts independently
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
- liaisonConnector between groups
dealer · representative · matchmaker · facilitator · intercessor · conciliator · envoy · emissary
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
- peacemakingResolving conflicts through negotiation
settlement · compromise · peacekeeping · intercession · adjudication · truce · ceasefire · ombudsman
Financial institution transactions
- underwritingRisk evaluation and acceptance
- securitiesTradeable financial assets
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
- lendingTemporary provision of resources
credit · debt · equity · transactions · liquidity · clearinghouse · escrow · syndication
Raised flat structure
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
- aggregatorCombines content from sources
- APISoftware communication standard
- gatewayPoint of access
portal · exchange · hub · clearinghouse · e-commerce · fintech · peer-to-peer · crowdfunding
Act of making possible
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
guidance · optimization · empowerment · catalyst · bridge-building · convening · matchmaking · connection
middleman
Agent linking two parties
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- agentOne who acts independently
- go-betweenAgent connecting separate parties
liaison · dealer · representative · matchmaker · facilitator · intercessor · conciliator · envoy · emissary · spokesperson
arbitration
Non-court binding dispute resolution
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- conciliationResolving disputes through dialogue
peacemaking · settlement · compromise · peacekeeping · intercession · adjudication · truce · ceasefire · ombudsman
banking
Financial institution transactions
- underwritingRisk evaluation and acceptance
- securitiesTradeable financial assets
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
lending · credit · debt · equity · transactions · liquidity · clearinghouse · escrow · syndication · spread
platform
Raised flat structure
- marketplaceVenue for commerce
- aggregatorCombines content from sources
- APISoftware communication standard
gateway · portal · exchange · hub · clearinghouse · e-commerce · fintech · peer-to-peer · crowdfunding · ride-sharing
enablement
Act of making possible
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- assistanceSupport or aid given
- supportTo uphold or sustain
streamlining · guidance · optimization · empowerment · catalyst · bridge-building · convening · matchmaking · connection · platform
intermediationdisintermediation
Removing middlemen from transactions
direct exchange · peer-to-peer · face-to-face · direct access · direct lending
intermediationdisintermediation
Removing middlemen from transactions
simplification · streamlining · directness · immediacy · consolidation
intermediationdisintermediation
Removing middlemen from transactions
direct lending · peer-to-peer lending · crowdfunding · direct investment · DeFi
immediate, mediate, mediation, intermediate, intermediary, intervention, immediacy, intermediates, interposition