negotiation
Americannoun
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negotiations
plural
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mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.
the negotiation of a treaty.
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the act or process of negotiating.
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an instance or the result of negotiating.
noun
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a discussion set up or intended to produce a settlement or agreement
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the act or process of negotiating
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of negotiation
1570–80; < Latin negōtiātiōn- (stem of negōtiātiō ) a doing of business, equivalent to negōtiāt ( us ) ( see negotiate) + -iōn- -ion
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.
Vocabulary lists containing negotiation
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
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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.
See Examples For:
Bonta abruptly canceled a negotiation session with Paramount in late August after potential deal terms leaked.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Congresswoman Young Kim, the chairwoman of the subcommittee, opened the hearing by warning Americans: "If you travel to China, Beijing may take you hostage as leverage in diplomatic negotiation."
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
In an era in which everyone howls about everything, and ranting in public is considered negotiation, head coach Lance Taylor refused to lash out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The agreement under negotiation could see British officials and experts take part in civilian crisis management operations for the first time since Brexit.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Artemis hoped fervently that someone on the fairy team had the wit to spot the blunder he’d made during the negotiation session.
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
“Unless we see a serious return to negotiations between Iran and the United States involving mutual concessions, escalation prospects may remain extremely high, potentially keeping crude prices elevated for an extended period.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
But he added: "We are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force."
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
One source familiar with the negotiations said the states had four separate votes against settling on Sunday, but the resistance eventually crumbled with word that the WGA was backing out of the fight.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready for negotiations with the U.S. but won’t surrender its nuclear program.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
“The negotiations are over. One way or another she will be returned to her kind. No harm will befall Captain Short. You have my word.”
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
