negotiable

adjective

ne·​go·​tia·​ble ni-ˈgō-sh(ē-)ə-bəl How to pronounce negotiable (audio)
: capable of being negotiated: such as
a
: transferable from one person to another by being delivered with or without endorsement (see endorse sense 1d) so that the title passes to the transferee (see transferee sense 1)
negotiable securities
b
: capable of being traversed, dealt with, or accomplished
a difficult but negotiable road
some kind of agreement was negotiable
c
: open to discussion or dispute
The terms of the contract are negotiable.
The price was not negotiable.

Examples of negotiable in a Sentence

The terms of the contract are negotiable. The price was not negotiable. a rough but negotiable road
Recent Examples on the Web Oh, and the hinges from a 2012 13-inch MacBook pro, though that's possibly negotiable. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2024 There are always people who think that my identity is negotiable because of how Palestine is debated in politics, especially today. Elena Dudum, Bon Appétit, 11 Jan. 2024 Compensation is negotiable, so don't be afraid to ask for dollar amounts, specific flights (and even upgrades), or extras like lounge passes. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2023 Side dishes may be negotiable, but the one thing that’s not is the meatloaf’s perfect accompanying beverage. Michelle Konstantinovsky, SELF, 27 Nov. 2023 Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: Commissions are negotiable and there are plenty of agents to choose from. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2023 While many movers are OK with leaving their stuff for free on the sidewalk, others list it on Facebook Marketplace for a low — and often negotiable — price. Vivi Smilgius, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2023 Op/Ed:By taxing student loan forgiveness as income, Indiana unfairly burdens teachers Is my student loan balance negotiable? Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Aug. 2023 But inside each of our issues, the solutions were negotiable. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'negotiable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

negoti(ate) + -able, perhaps after French négociable

First Known Use

1758, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of negotiable was in 1758

Dictionary Entries Near negotiable

Cite this Entry

“Negotiable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negotiable. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

negotiable

adjective
ne·​go·​tia·​ble ni-ˈgō-sh(ē-)ə-bəl How to pronounce negotiable (audio)
: capable of being negotiated: as
a
: capable of being passed from one person to another without being signed in return for something of equal value
negotiable bonds
b
: capable of being traveled over, dealt with, or accomplished
negotiable roads
some kind of agreement was negotiable
c
: open to discussion or change
negotiable prices
negotiability noun

Legal Definition

negotiable

adjective
ne·​go·​tia·​ble ni-ˈgō-shə-bəl How to pronounce negotiable (audio)
: capable of being negotiated
especially : transferable from one party to another by delivery with or without endorsement so that title passes to the transferee
negotiable securities
a negotiable certificate of deposit
see also negotiable instrument
negotiability noun

More from Merriam-Webster on negotiable

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