Intermediaire

Intermediaire, or intermédiaire in French, denotes an entity or stage that operates between two or more parties. In English, the corresponding noun is intermediary and the adjective is intermediate. The term derives from Latin intermedius and appears in business, law, and science contexts; the accent is commonly omitted in English texts.

In economics and commerce, an intermediary is a broker, agent, distributor, or platform that connects producers with buyers, facilitates information flow, and helps match supply with demand. Intermediaries can also provide financing, risk sharing, and logistics, reducing transaction costs and increasing market efficiency. Examples include wholesalers, retailers, brokers, banks, insurers, and online marketplaces.

In science, particularly chemistry, an intermediate (intermédiaire in French) is a transient species formed during a reaction before the final product. These species help explain mechanisms and kinetics but are usually short-lived and difficult to observe directly.

Spelling and usage vary by language. French uses intermédiaire with the accent; English uses intermediary as the noun and intermediate as the adjective. In regulatory contexts, financial and trade intermediaries may be subject to licensing, disclosures, and fiduciary duties depending on jurisdiction.