bargain

American  

[bahr-guhn] / ˈbɑr gən /

noun

• bargains
  plural

1. an advantageous purchase, especially one acquired at less than the usual cost.

   The sale offered bargains galore.

2. an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive in a transaction.

   Synonyms:

   transaction, arrangement, stipulation

3. such an agreement as affecting one of the parties.

   a losing bargain.

4. something acquired by bargaining.

5. Informal. an agreeable person, especially one who causes no trouble or difficulty (usually used in negative constructions).

   His boss is no bargain.

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verb (used without object)

• bargains,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bargained,
  past participle,  past
• bargaining
  present participle

1. to discuss the terms of a bargain; haggle; negotiate.

2. to come to an agreement; make a bargain.

   We bargained on a three-year term.

   Synonyms:

   covenant, contract

verb (used with object)

• bargains,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bargained,
  past participle,  past
• bargaining
  present participle

1. to arrange by bargain; negotiate.

   to bargain a new wage increase.

2. 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

1. bargain on to expect or anticipate; count or rely on.

   You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.

2. bargain for to anticipate or take into account.

   The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.

idioms

1. 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.

2. 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.

bargain British  

/ ˈbɑːɡɪn /

noun

1. an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them

2. something acquired or received in such an agreement

3. 1. something bought or offered at a low price

      a bargain at an auction

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bargain price

4. in excess of what has been stipulated; besides

5. to agree on terms

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verb

1. (intr) to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc

2. (tr) to exchange, as in a bargain

3. to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)

bargain More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing bargain

• drive a bargain
• into the bargain
• make the best of it (a bad bargain)
• more than one bargained for
• strike a bargain

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Synonym Usage

See agreement. See trade.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bargainer
  noun
• bargaining
  noun
• outbargain
  verb (used with object)
• prebargain
  verb (used with object)
• bargainable
  adjective
• probargaining
  adjective
• unbargained
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• bargains
  plural

Participles

• bargaining
  present
• bargained
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bargain
  simple
• bargains
  simple
• have bargained
  perfect
• has bargained
  perfect
• am bargaining
  progressive
• are bargaining
  progressive
• is bargaining
  progressive
• have been bargaining
  perfect progressive
• has been bargaining
  perfect progressive

Past

• bargained
  simple
• had bargained
  perfect
• was bargaining
  progressive
• were bargaining
  progressive
• had been bargaining
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bargain
  simple
• will have bargained
  perfect
• will be bargaining
  progressive
• will have been bargaining
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bargain bargains bargained bargaining

There’s been talk of bargain hunting and fears of catching a falling knife.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026

I fail to see how the second strand of the story adds much unless you consider it a bargain to get two badly told tales for the price of one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

“One of the biggest turnoffs in collectibles is a bargain bin.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

This is the maddening bargain at the center of so much professional advice: show personality, but not too much.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

I gave up, went to the market, and got a decent bargain, since not many people were out in the rain, even managing a skirt for Helena that might be a little large.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

But the FBI compiled emails, which ProPublica reviewed, that were suggestive of illegal bargains.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

"You find bargains, you buy the bargains, you end up with loads of bargains and you're a hoarder," he said.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Many capital cases were negotiated as “plea bargains to life without parole on the express promise that this will provide the finality that the victims need most,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Pittsburgh is one of the leading retirement bargains among larger U.S. cities.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Or the decision to locate the national capital on the Potomac was a backroom deal involving so many secret bargains and bribes that no one would ever unravel the full story.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Kroger’s category managers have bargained separately over individual product categories like chips and soda, or beef and chicken, even when the same company sells both.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Hershey argued that the plaintiffs “got what they bargained for — delicious candy.”

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

Slate’s Alexander Sammon paid the lab a visit and learned more than he bargained for.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

Mabille's collection for haute couture week was all about getting more than you bargained for with its theme of duality.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Once again proving her extraordinary will and courage, Ona bargained with Whipple.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Still, a prolonged energy shock could prompt businesses to curb hiring and investment, eventually weakening workers’ bargaining power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The picket by 33,000 machinists secured the workers a 38% wage hike over their four-year contract and demonstrated the power of the Seattle-area bargaining bloc.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

In addition to firefighters and sheriff’s deputies, the new system would apply to bargaining units for district attorney investigators, deputy medical examiners and county lifeguards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

He has held off for now, viewing the move as a bargaining chip with China.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

He seemed to sense the bargaining that was taking place.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Related Words

• arrangement
• contract
• deal
• negotiation
• pact
• transaction
• understanding