transact

American  

[tran-sakt, -zakt] / trænˈsækt, -ˈzækt /

verb (used with object)

1. to carry on or conduct (business, negotiations, activities, etc.) to a conclusion or settlement.

   Synonyms:

   negotiate, manage, settle, conclude, enact

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verb (used without object)

1. to carry on or conduct business, negotiations, etc..

   He was ordered to transact only with the highest authorities.

transact British  

/ trænˈzækt /

verb

1. to do, conduct, or negotiate (business, a deal, etc)

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Related Words

See perform.

Other Word Forms

• pretransact verb (used with object)
• transactor noun
• untransacted adjective

Etymology

Origin of transact

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin trānsāctus (past participle of trānsigere “to carry out, accomplish”), equivalent to trāns- “across, beyond, through” + ag(ere) “to drive, lead” + -tus past participle suffix; see trans-

Explanation

The verb transact is almost always used with the word "business." To transact business is to conduct it, as when a shopkeeper sells groceries to a customer. All kinds of business owners and workers transact business, just by following their usual routines of selling, buying, investing, trading, or anything else they do to carry out their work. Shoppers also participate in transacting business — a purchase can also be called a transaction. The Latin root word, transactus, means "to drive through or accomplish."

Example Sentences

Another sign of the software project’s novel approach: The defense companies, which traditionally transact directly with the Pentagon, are acting as subcontractors to the tech companies in the group.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The Treasury Department also issued a license to allow U.S. entities to transact with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, a move to “reopen and restore” that nation’s energy sector, according to a post on X.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

“Our path to profitability is clear: transact with more sellers, strengthen our unit economics through better pricing and resale speed, and drive operational efficiency by being ruthless on expenses,” Nejatian said.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

“These are people who are in the United States legally and need active Social Security numbers in order to work and transact personal business,” Richtman says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2025

Other Koreans depended on him to find good deals and transact them.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee