negotiation

noun

ne·​go·​ti·​a·​tion ni-ˌgō-shē-ˈā-shən 

nonstandard

-sē- 

: the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated

—often used in plural

Negotiations between the two governments have failed to produce an agreement.

Synonyms

• accommodation
• compromise
• concession
• give-and-take

Examples of negotiation in a Sentence

We need a negotiation between the townspeople and mayor over the site of the new library.

She is skilled at negotiation.

The college president was against any negotiation with the students.

Recent Examples on the Web

On May 22, the union locals filed unfair labor practice charges against Food 4 Less/Foods Co., alleging the company undermined negotiations and workers’ rights to representation. —City News Service, Orange County Register, 13 June 2024

Full withdrawal is a step that is supposed to be part of negotiations. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024

The official told me negotiations on this bilateral agreement started last fall, but the U.S. was not able to complete negotiations while waiting for Congress to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine. —Selina Wang, ABC News, 12 June 2024

The tension inherent in that process is evident in Schlanger’s negotiations with her sources. —Rachel Riederer, The New Yorker, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English negociacion "dealing with people," borrowed from Latin negōtiātiōn-, negōtiātiō "business, trade," from negōtiārī "to do business, trade, deal" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at negotiate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing negotiation

• in negotiation
• open to negotiation
• under negotiation