bargain

[ bahr-guhn ]
See synonyms for: bargainbargaining on Thesaurus.com

noun
  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.

  1. such an agreement as affecting one of the parties: a losing bargain.

  2. something acquired by bargaining.

  3. 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)
  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.

verb (used with object)
  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 Phrases
  1. bargain for, to anticipate or take into account: The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.

  2. bargain on, to expect or anticipate; count or rely on: You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.

Idioms about bargain

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

Origin of bargain

1
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

synonym study For bargain

2. See agreement. 6. See trade.

Other words for bargain

Other words from bargain

  • bar·gain·a·ble, adjective
  • bar·gain·er, noun
  • outbargain, verb (used with object)
  • pre·bar·gain, verb (used with object)
  • pro·bar·gain·ing, adjective
  • un·bar·gained, adjective

Words Nearby bargain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bargain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bargain

bargain

/ (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

  1. US

    • something bought or offered at a low price: a bargain at an auction

    • (as modifier): a bargain price

  2. into the bargain or US in the bargain in excess of what has been stipulated; besides

  3. make a bargain or strike a bargain to agree on terms

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

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

  1. to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)

Origin of bargain

1
C14: from Old French bargaigne, from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrow

Derived forms of bargain

  • bargainer, noun
  • bargaining, noun, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with bargain

bargain

In addition to the idiom beginning with bargain

  • bargain for

also see:

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.