Sometimes, to reach an agreement or carry it out efficiently, you need the help of an objective third person.
So, if you’re wondering how to describe a person who plays this role, this article is here to help!
Below, we’ve compiled a list of great words and phrases for someone who connects others.
Words for a Person Who Connects Others
- Liaison
- Intermediary
- Middleperson
- Broker
- Interagent
- Mediator
- Go-between
- Interceder
- Agent
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The word “liaison” can be used to describe someone who creates communication between two or more parties in either a business or social sense.
- An “intermediary” is an impartial officer who helps two parties resolve a dispute.
- In business, a “middleperson” will act as a key connection between traders.
Keep reading! In the next section, we’ll discuss our top three terms for a person who connects other people in more detail.
In addition, we’ll show you how to use each of our choices in some helpful example sentences.
Liaison
Our first term for a person who connects others is “liaison.”
Merriam-Webster defines this word as “a person who establishes and maintains communication for mutual understanding and cooperation.”
“Liaison” stems from the Latin word ligare, meaning “to bind.” Interestingly, it was originally used in 1640s English to refer to a cooking agent that thickened sauces.
It now has a variety of definitions and uses. However, almost all of them relate to creating connections in one way or another.
You will likely hear the word “liaison” in professional settings from time to time.
After all, we use it frequently to refer to people who help organizations work together or deliver information between different people or departments.
In short, “liaison” is a highly multifaceted term with many potential uses in English.
Nevertheless, it is a very effective word to describe someone who connects others.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in some example sentences:
Kalita acts as a liaison between several departments at her company.
Benjamin is our liaison with most of our high-end clients.
Intermediary
The Cambridge Dictionary defines an “intermediary” as “someone who carries messages between people who are unwilling or unable to meet.”
Therefore, this is a perfect term for someone who connects people, particularly in professional or formal circumstances.
This term comes from the Latin word intermedius, which means “that which is between.”
In modern times, you will find people acting as intermediaries in all kinds of contexts.
For example, an “intermediary” could act as a neutral party between two sides in a conflict or business negotiation who are unable to reach a consensus on their own.
One could also act as an “intermediary” in a courtroom setting.
Oftentimes, a communications specialist will try to help opposing parties reach an agreement before an issue goes to court.
The most important aspect of an intermediary is that they must be impartial and must seek resolution between the two sides.
Therefore, this term is perfect if you are looking for a word to describe someone who helps people resolve their conflicts.
Consider the example sentences below:
I did my best to act as an intermediary whenever Mom and Uncle Todd would get into one of their arguments, but I found that understanding one another was rarely the goal of their discussions.
The court has assigned an intermediary to assist these parties in reaching an agreement.
Middleperson
“Middleperson” is a more inclusive variation of the term “middleman.”
The latter term is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as “someone who communicates or makes arrangements between two people or groups who are unwilling or unable to meet or deal directly with each other.”
From this definition, you can see that “middleperson” is a more casual synonym for someone acting as an intermediary or liaison between two people or groups.
However, you will usually hear the term “middleman” or “middleperson” used in a business context rather than a formal court setting or military conflict.
Oftentimes, a “middleman” will facilitate transactions between people or organizations.
Thus, this term is distinctly economic compared to the others above.
Let’s see a couple of example sentences that illustrate the business context of the term “middleperson”:
I suggest we cut out the middleperson and start to engage directly with our main supplier.
I essentially work as the middleperson between industrial factories and the farmers whose resources are ever so valuable to them.