negotiation

American  

[ni-goh-shee-ay-shuhn, -see-] / nɪˌgoʊ ʃiˈeɪ ʃən, -si- /

noun

• negotiations
  plural

1. mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.

   the negotiation of a treaty.

2. the act or process of negotiating.

3. an instance or the result of negotiating.

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negotiation British  

/ nɪˌɡəʊʃɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. a discussion set up or intended to produce a settlement or agreement

2. the act or process of negotiating

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonnegotiation
  noun
• prenegotiation
  noun
• pronegotiation
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• negotiations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of negotiation

1570–80; < Latin negōtiātiōn- (stem of negōtiātiō ) a doing of business, equivalent to negōtiāt ( us ) ( see negotiate) + -iōn- -ion

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Explanation

A negotiation is a business-oriented conversation where two sides argue, discuss, and compromise to reach some agreement. When you hear the word negotiation, you know there are two sides and they're willing to talk to each other. In sports, the owners and the players union go through a negotiation to get a new contract. Parents and kids might have a negotiation over curfew time. Negotiation implies that both sides are willing to give something up and compromise. If your side won't give an inch, then you're not ready for negotiation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

negotiation negotiations

“We are not part of the negotiation between the U.S. and Canada,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

The monitoring of and restricted access to devices instead should come through negotiation, even when you are dealing with someone who is very recalcitrant.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Unlike recent COPs -- where nearly 200 nations forged landmark pacts on phasing down coal or moving away from fossil fuels -- the negotiation agenda at COP31 is light on big-ticket items.

From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026

Mbappe, now 27, said his mother went out to Liverpool for the "first step" of the negotiation.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

“Not very good negotiation techniques, Commander, to lose your cool before we even get to the table.”

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

The CFP management committee, made up of 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, met Thursday to discuss the negotiations with ESPN, according to the Athletic and ESPN.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Now, European Council President Antonio Costa will lead negotiations, with an extraordinary meeting added in late November to help get the budget over the line.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Earlier this year, U.S. envoy Massad Boulos held negotiations in Madrid with the foreign ministers of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and representatives of the Polisario.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

After years of negotiations, most of the territory eventually chose independence as three new countries with strong defense ties to the U.S.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

We had all hoped that as negotiations got under way, violence would decrease.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

• agreement
• arbitration
• compromise
• conference
• consultation
• debate
• diplomacy
• discussion
• intervention
• mediation
• meeting
• transaction

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