What is middleman? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of middleman in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of middleman

middlemannoun
người trung gian
/ˈmɪdlmæn//ˈmɪdlmæn/

Where does the word middleman come from?

"Middleman" is a relatively recent term, emerging in the 16th century. It's a compound word formed from "middle" and "man," reflecting its core meaning: a person who stands in the middle of a transaction. "Middle" signifies the intermediary position, while "man" designates the individual acting as a facilitator between two parties, typically a buyer and a seller. The term originally referred to someone mediating business deals but has expanded to include various intermediaries in different contexts.

Vocabulary summary middleman

type noun

meaning broker

Example of vocabulary middlemannamespace

a person or a company that buys goods from the company that makes them and sells them to somebody else

Buy direct from the manufacturer and cut out the middleman.
In the real estate transaction, the real estate agent served as the middleman between the buyer and the seller.
The stockbroker acted as a middleman between the investor and the stock exchange.
The travel agency served as a middleman between the traveler and the airline or hotel.
The import-export company functioned as a middleman between the foreign manufacturer and the local distributor.

a person who helps to arrange things between people who do not want to talk directly to each other