negotiation
Americannoun
-
mutual discussion and arrangement of the terms of a transaction or agreement.
the negotiation of a treaty.
-
the act or process of negotiating.
-
an instance or the result of negotiating.
noun
-
a discussion set up or intended to produce a settlement or agreement
-
the act or process of negotiating
Other Word Forms
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)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Marriage is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Mr. Xi’s greatest diplomatic triumph of recent years was arguably the negotiation in 2023 of a normalization agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
A ceasefire on April 8 halted the conflict, but negotiation efforts, including historic face to face talks hosted in Islamabad have so far failed to yield a lasting agreement.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
The union says Transport for London "has not made any attempt to engage in negotiation meetings to resolve this dispute".
From BBC • May 18, 2026
But the fate of the program is likely to remain a live negotiation until the budget is finalized in July.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
He prefers negotiation to fighting, and properly so, since he is very bad at fighting.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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.
