negotiation

noun

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

nonstandard

-sē- 

: the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated

—often 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

On the last day of negotiations, the talks turned aggressive. — Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026

Representatives from the three countries held three rounds of trilateral negotiations early this year, twice in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, and once in Geneva, but the talks achieved no significant breakthroughs. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2026

Its cable provisions regulate negotiations without preserving competition over the perspectives that are broadcast. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, or DEFA—the world’s first comprehensive, region-wide agreement dedicated to the digital economy. — Jon M. Huntsman, Fortune, 24 Sep. 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