bargain
Americannoun
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an advantageous purchase, especially one acquired at less than the usual cost.
The sale offered bargains galore.
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an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive in a transaction.
- Synonyms:
- transaction, arrangement, stipulation
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such an agreement as affecting one of the parties.
a losing bargain.
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something acquired by bargaining.
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Informal. an agreeable person, especially one who causes no trouble or difficulty (usually used in negative constructions).
His boss is no bargain.
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
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to arrange by bargain; negotiate.
to bargain a new wage increase.
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to anticipate as likely to occur; expect (usually followed by a clause).
I'll bargain that he's going to give those company directors plenty of trouble.
verb phrase
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bargain on to expect or anticipate; count or rely on.
You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.
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bargain for to anticipate or take into account.
The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.
idioms
-
strike a bargain, to make a bargain; agree to terms.
They were unable to strike a bargain because the owner's asking price was more than the prospective buyer could afford.
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in / into the bargain, over and above what has been stipulated; moreover; besides.
The new housekeeper proved to be a fine cook in the bargain.
noun
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an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them
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something acquired or received in such an agreement
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something bought or offered at a low price
a bargain at an auction
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( as modifier )
a bargain price
-
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in excess of what has been stipulated; besides
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to agree on terms
verb
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(intr) to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc
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(tr) to exchange, as in a bargain
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to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unbargainedadjective
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probargainingadjective
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outbargainverb (used with object)
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bargainableadjective
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bargainernoun
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prebargainverb (used with object)
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bargainingnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have bargainedperfect
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has bargainedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been bargainingperfect progressive
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are bargainingprogressive
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bargainssingular 3rd person
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bargainingparticiple
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am bargainingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been bargainingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is bargainingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had bargainedperfect
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were bargainingprogressive plural
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bargainedsimple
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was bargainingprogressive singular
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had been bargainingperfect progressive
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bargainedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of bargain
First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English bargaynen, from Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ner, probably from Frankish borganjan (unrecorded); cognate with Old High German bor(a)gēn “to look after” ( German borgen “to lend”); (for the noun) Middle English bargayn, from Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ne, bargain, derivative of the verb; cf. borrow
Explanation
The table you bought at a yard sale for five dollars might seem like a bargain until you get it home and realize it only has three legs. A bargain is a good deal. Inexpensive items are one type of bargain, and another kind of bargain is an agreement you make with someone — a deal or compromise. Two countries might strike a trade bargain, or you could make a bargain with your friend that you'll drive to the mall if she buys you a giant cinnamon roll. Bargain also means to negotiate the details of a purchase, which makes sense because the root word is bargaignier, French for "haggle over the price."
Vocabulary lists containing bargain
Material World: Shopping Lingo
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November Words
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If a producer decided to use a synthetic in a role that could be done by a human, they would need to notify the union and bargain in good faith.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
In April, the Dutch authorities announced they had recovered the helmet and two of the three bracelets after striking a bargain with two of the suspects.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
In a dramatic development in April, authorities revealed they had recovered the helmet and two of the three bracelets after striking a bargain with two of the suspects.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Gold stocks are way down, and anyone seeking a bargain should at least give them a look.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
His alibi—that he was with another woman—checked out, and it became clear that the forger who had implicated Brown had fabricated his story hoping to bargain with prosecutors for better prison conditions.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
