What does "intercession" mean?
The act of intervening or mediating between two parties.
Intercession
noun
noun ·4 syllables ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of intervening or mediating between two parties.
- Grammar: intercession is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: advocacy, agency, aid prayer, angelus.
- Useful contrasts: inaction, indifference, neglect.
- Usage evidence: The saints aid us by their intercession.
How to use "intercession"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "intercession" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "intercession" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "intercession" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "intercession" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "intercession" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "advocacy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "intercession", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of intervening or mediating between two parties. countable, uncountable
"Lady Marchmont found her companions in no mood for discourse. Her husband was asleep, and Ethel's languid voice was scarcely audible when she forced a reply to some trilling question; and Henrietta could perceive, from the convulsive movement, and from the short suppressed sob, that she was weeping. When they arrived at home, the light showed Ethel so pale, so worn out, that she thought all attempt at any intercession were best deferred to the morrow. It must, also, be confessed, that she felt too weary for much eloquence as a pleader."
- 2 the act of intervening (as to mediate a dispute, etc.) wordnet
- 3 A prayer to God on behalf of another person; especially, such a prayer offered by a heavenly saint on behalf of a mere mortal who has prayed to the saint for such help. countable, uncountable
- 4 a prayer to God on behalf of another person wordnet
Example
"The saints aid us by their intercession."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "intercession"?
Common synonyms include: advocacy, agency, aid prayer, angelus, appeal, ave.
How do you use "intercession" in a sentence?
The saints aid us by their intercession.
Etymology
First attested in the early 15th Century. From Middle French intercession, from Old French intercession, from Latin intercessiō, from intercēdō, from inter- (“between”) + cēdō (“to go”) (English cede), literally “go-between”.