mediation
noun
me·di·a·tion
ˌmē-dē-ˈā-shən 
: the act or process of mediating: such as
a
: intervention between conflicting parties to promote reconciliation, settlement, or compromise
The town feud raged until April … when, with the mediation of William N. Byers the dispute was settled and the name of Denver selected for the settlement.—
Thomas A. Martin
Thomas A. Martin
specifically
: a means of resolving disputes outside of the judicial system by voluntary participation in negotiations structured by agreement of the parties and usually conducted under the guidance and supervision of a trained intermediary
More couples are considering mediation—or using a mediator to help them reach a compromise—rather than hiring two lawyers who fight it out for their clients. —Mary Rowland
Mary Rowland
b
: indirect conveyance or communication through an intermediary
Islam recognizes no ordination, no sacraments, no priestly mediation between the believer and God.—Bernard Lewis
Bernard LewisLike any of the other emporiums of the western ocean, Mogadishu had plenty of employment for the commercial brokers … who provided the crucial mediation between the arriving sea merchants and the local wholesalers.—Ross E. Dunn
Ross E. Dunn
c
: transmission by an intermediate mechanism or agency
The critical role of the hippocampus in the mediation of normal memory processes has been highlighted by the observation that in human patients bilateral damage to the medial temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, produces an extensive and durable amnesia for new information.—Raymond P. Kesner et al.
Raymond P. Kesner et al.Examples of mediation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now, the case is reliant upon mediation, and survivors are seeking to get the bankruptcy case dismissed.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Research on parental mediation also finds that rehearsed responses help children disengage from uncomfortable interactions.
—Sharlette A. Kellum, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
No mediation conference occurred before the March 18 deadline, and the matter proceeded to investigation.
—Kelsey Maurine Brickl, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
With both sides awaiting a summary-judgment ruling and mediation talks having reached a dead-end, Judge Lewis Liman’s decision Thursday came as no surprise.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
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Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Research on parental mediation also finds that rehearsed responses help children disengage from uncomfortable interactions.
—Sharlette A. Kellum, The Conversation, 6 Apr. 2026
No mediation conference occurred before the March 18 deadline, and the matter proceeded to investigation.
—Kelsey Maurine Brickl, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
With both sides awaiting a summary-judgment ruling and mediation talks having reached a dead-end, Judge Lewis Liman’s decision Thursday came as no surprise.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mediation
Cite this Entry
“Mediation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mediation. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mediation
noun
me·di·a·tion
ˌmēd-ē-ˈā-shən
: the act or process of mediating something (as a physical process)
Legal Definition
mediation
noun
me·di·a·tion
ˌmē-dē-ˈā-shən
: nonbinding intervention between parties to promote resolution of a grievance, reconciliation, settlement, or compromise compare arbitration
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