middle man
Intermediary in deals
A middle man is someone who acts as an intermediary between two parties—typically a buyer and seller who don't deal directly with each other.
The term often carries negative connotations, implying unnecessary cost or complication: Let's cut out the middle man and buy directly from the manufacturer.
In supply chains, middle men add markup; in negotiations, they relay messages between principals.
Also spelled middleman.
Agent connecting separate parties
- liaisonConnector between groups
- agentOne who acts independently
- representativeOne who acts for another
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
delegate · envoy · emissary · intercessor · conduit · channel · buffer · messenger
One who resolves disputes
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
- peacemakerConflict resolution agent
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
- conciliatorOne who restores harmony
bargainer · deal-maker · advocate · intercessor · referee · umpire · moderator · arbiter
Payment for services rendered
- dealerOne who sells goods
- agentOne who acts independently
- tradingExchanging for value
- buyObtain through payment
sell · trade · market · securities · stocks · exchange · arbitrage · commodities
Bulk goods middleman
- distributorEntity channeling goods downstream
- vendorOne who sells goods
- supplierSource of goods
- jobberMiddleman in trade
importer · exporter · retailer · merchant · trader · procurement · logistics · fulfillment
go-between
Agent connecting separate parties
- liaisonConnector between groups
- agentOne who acts independently
- representativeOne who acts for another
mediator · delegate · envoy · emissary · intercessor · conduit · channel · buffer · messenger · courier
arbitrator
One who resolves disputes
- mediatorNeutral conflict resolver
- peacemakerConflict resolution agent
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
conciliator · bargainer · deal-maker · advocate · intercessor · referee · umpire · moderator · arbiter · ombudsman
commission
Payment for services rendered
buy · sell · trade · market · securities · stocks · exchange · arbitrage · commodities · futures
wholesaler
Bulk goods middleman
- distributorEntity channeling goods downstream
- vendorOne who sells goods
- supplierSource of goods
jobber · importer · exporter · retailer · merchant · trader · procurement · logistics · fulfillment · warehouse
- antipatternsspaghetti code, dead code, code smell, technical debt, cargo cult
- refactoringrename, inline, renaming, decomposition, pull up
middle mandirect connection
face-to-face · peer-to-peer · direct trade · disintermediation · direct sale