bargain

[bahr-guhn]

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.

   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.

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.

   Synonyms: covenant, contract

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 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.

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

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

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)

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bargain¹

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; borrow

Word History and Origins

Origin of bargain¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

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

Synonym Study

See agreement. See trade.

Example Sentences

Higher-income Americans are driving much of the gains, as lower-income shoppers seek bargains and are more likely to spend more on necessities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He warns against weakening workers' bargaining power, especially as technology displaces jobs and unemployment remains high.

Read more on BBC

They didn’t have official Black Friday sales during the cataleptic 1970s, because the economy was in woeful shape and the public had basically given up on the idea of bargains.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s enough to make a $2.5 trillion company look like a bargain.

Read more on Barron's

Small businesses in the area — which includes the historically vibrant, bustling open-air shopping corridor Santee Alley known for bargain prices — are looking for ways to recoup some of their losses through holiday sales.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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