# mediate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈmidieɪt/ · frequency rank #24,512

## Definitions
1. To resolve differences, or to bring about a settlement, between conflicting parties.
2. To intervene between conflicting parties in order to resolve differences or bring about a settlement.
3. To divide into two equal parts.
4. To act as an intermediary causal or communicative agent; to convey.
5. To act as a spiritualistic medium.
6. To communicate via media; to frame; to provide a cultural narrative about.

## Etymology
The adjective is first attested in the 1440s in Middle English, the verb in 1538; from Middle English mediat(e) (“intermediate; intercessory”), borrowed from Late Latin mediātus, perfect passive participle of mediō (“to divide in the middle; (in Medieval Latin) to be in the middle, be or become between, mediate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from medius (“middle”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **medicare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mediate-vs-medicare)
- **mediator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mediate-vs-mediator)
- **meditate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mediate-vs-meditate)
- **media** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/media-vs-mediate)
- **median** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/median-vs-mediate)
- **medial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/medial-vs-mediate)

## Common misspellings (8)
`emdiate`, `mdeiate`, `medaite`, `meddiate`, `mediaet`, `meditae`, `meidate`, `mmediate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mediate