negotiation

noun

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

, nonstandard -sē-

Definition of negotiation

: the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated —often used in plural Negotiations between the two governments have failed to produce an agreement.

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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

Messengers would try negotiation and compromise, but threats, coercion, and bribery often worked better. — William Gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "How to Storm a Castle," 11 Apr. 2019 Employers and job applicants now engage in salary negotiations focused purely on skill and merit. — Alicia Glen, Marie Claire, "Alicia Glen of Women.NYC on Helping Women and Female-Led Business Get the Money They Deserve," 3 Apr. 2019 Through symbolic and direct actions, SustainUS brings youth to international negotiations to dismantle the political elite’s narrative and demand stronger, urgent action. — Maia Wikler, Teen Vogue, "5 Youth-Led Climate Justice Groups Helping to Save the Environment," 28 Mar. 2019 Relations have also been strained by tit-for-tat trade tariffs between Mexico and the U.S. amid tense negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. — Susannah George, chicagotribune.com, "Mexico officials urge Mike Pompeo to reunite immigrant families quickly," 13 July 2018 Relations have also been strained by tit-for-tat trade tariffs between Mexico and the U.S. amid tense negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and fears of a trade war. — Susannah George, BostonGlobe.com, "We can’t afford to replace empathy with apathy," 13 July 2018 After a few years of negotiations, the show finally premiered on March 4, 2006. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "Amy Roloff's Net Worth Goes Way Beyond 'Little People, Big World'," 2 Apr. 2019 Following a marathon seven-hour cabinet meeting, Mrs. May outlined plans to request a short extension of Brexit negotiations, ideally no longer than to May 22, to give the government time to hammer out an agreement with Labour and avoid leaving... — Jason Douglas, WSJ, "Theresa May Courts Opposition in Bid to Break Brexit Impasse," 2 Apr. 2019 The timing is terribly convenient—coming just as President Trump has begun engaging in negotiations with China amid the ongoing trade war. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, "Meanwhile, in China, Ivanka Trump’s Business Doesn’t Seem So Defunct After All," 22 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'negotiation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Apr 2019

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The first known use of negotiation was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for negotiation

negotiation

noun

Financial Definition of negotiation

What It Is

Negotiation is a process in which two or more parties resolve a dispute or come to a mutual agreement.

How It Works

Negotiations occur all the time in the business world, and they are often strategic in nature. In many cases, they require a good legal education and a good financial education so that the parties can understand each other, make sound decisions, and understand the potential consequences of those decisions.

Negotiation often takes place in these business situations:

1. Company A and Company B want to merge but must agree on price, financing, and management changes.
2. John Doe wants a job with Company XYZ but must negotiate his salary and benefits.
3. Company A wants to purchase supplies from Company B on certain payment terms.
4. Company A wants Company B to become a customer.
5. John Doe is suing Jane Smith, and Jane Smith offers to settle out of court for a certain amount of money.
6. Union ABC wants higher wages and pension contributions from Company XYZ.
7. Jane Smith wants to buy a house from John Doe.

Why It Matters

The list is endless. The important thing to remember is that negotiation is not necessarily adversarial; it often is a strategic process. The objective is to come up with an agreement that benefits all parties. Sometimes parties must give up some things, but this is indeed part of the negotiation, and giving something up frequently allows for gains in other areas of the negotiation.

The best negotiators prepare themselves by studying the situation extensively before entering the negotiating room. They also consider deadlines, timing, cultural expectations, personalities, and the distribution of information in their negotiating strategies.

Source: Investing Answers

negotiation

noun