negotiate

verb

ne·​go·​ti·​ate ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌāt 

nonstandard

-sē- 

negotiated; negotiating

intransitive verb

: to confer with another so as to arrive at the settlement of some matter

Teachers are negotiating for higher salaries.

transitive verb

1

a

: to deal with (some matter or affair that requires ability for its successful handling) : manage

negotiated his business deals with remarkable skill

b

: to arrange for or bring about through conference, discussion, and compromise

negotiate a treaty

2

a

: to transfer (something, such as a bill of exchange) to another by delivery or endorsement (see endorse sense 1d)

b

: to convert into cash or the equivalent value

negotiate a check

3

a

: to successfully travel along or over

negotiate a turn

b

: complete, accomplish

negotiate the trip in two hours

negotiator

ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌā-tər 

 nonstandard  -sē-

noun

negotiatory

ni-ˈgō-sh(ē-)ə-ˌtȯr-ē 

nonstandard

-sē- 

adjective

Did you know?

The Controversial History of Negotiate

Negotiate comes from Latin negōtiārī, meaning "to carry on business," and the word shares that meaning. In English, it can also mean "to successfully travel along or over."

Synonyms

• arrange
• bargain
• concert
• conclude

Examples of negotiate in a Sentence

The customer wanted to negotiate over the price.

She has good negotiating skills.

We negotiated a fair price.

The driver carefully negotiated the winding road.

Recent Examples on the Web

Led by chief negotiator and NewsGuild local representative Lena Solow, the union maintains that the November layoffs need to be negotiated as part of its overall first contract package, a process that has been ongoing so far for at least a year. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Apr. 2024

By Billy Perrigo April 12, 2024 7:44 AM EDT Google provides cloud computing services to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, and the tech giant has negotiated deepening its partnership during Israel’s war in Gaza, a company document viewed by TIME shows. —Billy Perrigo, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024

At press time, world distribution was being negotiated. —Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024

Growing up in Stamford, Connecticut, Jen Psaki would negotiate with her parents to stay up past her bedtime to watch Barbara on ABC’s 20 ⁄ 20. —Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Federal agencies negotiate agreements with the commission about such plans, but ultimately, Teufel said, the commission’s approval is not required. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

In a blistering letter to her Republican colleagues on Tuesday, Greene argued Johnson has failed to live up to his promises by negotiating with Democrats and breaking procedural rules to pass major legislation. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024

Inmates start with conditioning and running shorter distances, before potentially taking part in a full marathon, negotiating 105 laps of a gritty, uneven prison track by the end of the year. —Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

Despite the progress Scott acknowledged that many people are still negotiating with their insurance companies to get the money necessary to rebuild. —Josh Snyder, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin negōtiātus, past participle of negōtiārī "to do business, trade, deal," derivative of negōtium "work, business, difficulty, annoyance," from nec "not" + ōtium "free time, leisure, tranquility," of obscure origin — more at neglect entry 1

Note: The sense "to confer in order to arrive at a settlement" is probably based on Middle French negocier or Italian negoziare, which had developed this sense, not belonging to the Latin source, by the mid-16th century.

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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Kids Definition

negotiate

verb

ne·​go·​ti·​ate ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌāt 

negotiated; negotiating

1

a

: to have a discussion with another so as to arrive at an agreement

b

: to arrange for or bring about by such discussion

negotiate a treaty

2

: to transfer to another in return for something of equal value

negotiate a check

3

: to get through, around, or over successfully

negotiate a turn

negotiation

-ˌgō-shē-ˈā-shən

-sē-

noun

negotiator

-ˈgō-shē-ˌāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

negotiate

verb

ne·​go·​ti·​ate ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌāt 

negotiated; negotiating

intransitive verb

: to confer with another so as to settle some matter

transitive verb

1

: to bring about through conference, discussion, and agreement or compromise

negotiate a contract

2

a

: to transfer (as an instrument) to another by delivery or endorsement

b

: to convert into cash or the equivalent value

negotiate a check

negotiation

ni-ˌgō-shē-ˈā-shən 

noun

negotiator

ni-ˈgō-shē-ˌā-tər 

noun