a person or company that buys goods from producers and sells them to retailers or consumers.
Farmers sold their crops to a middleman who supplied the local stores.
The online store cut out the middleman by selling directly to customers.
✦ Late 18th century: from 'middle' + 'man'. Originally used for a trader occupying the middle position in a chain of supply.
a person who arranges deals or agreements between two other parties.
She used a middleman to negotiate the contract anonymously.
The middleman brought the two sides together for talks.
