disintermediation
/ˌdɪs.ɪn.təˌmiː.diˈeɪ.ʃən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The removal of middlemen or intermediaries from a process, business, or supply chain. It often means buyers and sellers deal more directly with each other.
- Online booking caused disintermediation in travel.
- The app supports direct sales and disintermediation.
- Banks fear disintermediation by digital platforms.
Adinary Nuance
Disintermediation is more specific than "cutting out the middleman." It is the formal word used in business, finance, and economics. Use "direct sales" or "direct access" when you want a simpler everyday phrase. Use "disintermediation" when the idea is about changing a whole system, not just one deal.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phi trung gian
- Spanish
- desintermediación
- Chinese
- 去中介化
- Japanese
- 仲介排除
- Korean
- 중개 제거
Etymology
It came into English in the 20th century from business and economics. It is built from Latin roots meaning “between” and “to mediate,” with the prefix dis- meaning removal.
Common phrases
digital disintermediationdisintermediation of banksmarket disintermediationonline disintermediation
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is disintermediation formal or informal?
- It is formal and mostly used in business, finance, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between disintermediation and bypass?
- Bypass is general. Disintermediation is about removing a middle layer in a system or market.
- Can I use disintermediation in everyday speech?
- You can, but it may sound technical. In conversation, people often say "cut out the middleman."
- Is disintermediation used in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it can fit Task 2 or academic topics about business, technology, and economics.