The term 'mediation' has become central to intercultural language education, a fact that is evident from the attention given to mediation activities and strategies in the revised descriptors of the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" (North et al. 2017). However, what is meant by 'mediation' is not always clear to language educators, especially given the use of the term in related disciplines and fields, including Translation Studies, Mediated Discourse Studies, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building. This article revisits the concept of 'mediation' as it applies to intercultural language education, tracing the developments in its meanings across different disciplines, and illustrates ways in which different understandings of and approaches to mediation can inform intercultural language pedagogy.