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 of negotiation

• compromise
• consensus

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

That raised concerns that negotiations to formally end the war could be disrupted. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

The strike authorization vote does not necessarily mean a strike will happen, but gives the union the option to call a strike if necessary, and is often used as a show of force amid negotiations. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026

Council member Johnathan Duncan, who represents the Sixth District, questioned whether entering another stadium project negotiation is tying up too much of the city’s tax revenue. — Dylan Lysen june 30, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

After lengthy and hard-fought negotiations, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and members of the New York City Council reached a budget deal Tuesday just hours before the deadline. — Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 30 June 2026

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

Rhymes for negotiation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation