Intermediária

Intermediária is the feminine form of intermediário, used in Portuguese to designate a person or entity that acts as an intermediary between two or more parties to facilitate negotiation, agreement, or the transfer of goods, services, or information. An intermediária typically does not take ownership of the goods or funds involved; her role is to connect, broker, or facilitate.

In practice, intermediárias are common in various sectors. Commercial intermediation includes agents who link buyers and sellers in markets or supply chains. Financial intermediation encompasses banks, investment firms, and brokers that channel resources from savers to borrowers. Real estate intermediation involves brokers who coordinate property transactions. Employment and recruitment agencies also function as intermediárias by matching candidates with employers. In tourism or services platforms, intermediation can refer to the platform’s role as a catalyst between providers and customers.

In law and regulation, intermediação and intermediária designate the facilitator of a deal, often subject to disclosure requirements regarding fees, commissions, and conflicts of interest. In some contexts, public policy seeks to regulate intermediárias to ensure transparency and prevent misrepresentation.

Etymology: from Latin intermedius "between." Related terms include mediador (male), intermediário (masculine), and intermediação (the act of mediating). In technology, the term “intermediário” is sometimes used informally for software that connects components, though “middleware” is the common term in IT.