negotiation

noun

ne·go·ti·a·tion ni-ˌgō-shē-ˈā-shən

nonstandard

-sē-

Synonyms of negotiation next

: the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated

—often used in plural

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

Example Sentences

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 In higher education the sticker price is the starting point for each student’s negotiation. —

al, 25 Jan. 2023 The response included the SWAT team as well as the hostage negotiation team. —

Sheldon Gardner, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2023 Teacher unions as well as school boards need to be trained in labor negotiation strategies in order to achieve an atmosphere where both sides are heard, and to eliminate the combative and destructive atmosphere a strike often creates. —

BostonGlobe.com, 20 Jan. 2023 Melvin Mark signed a one-year exclusive negotiation agreement with Prosper Portland on Jan. 6 to advise the city’s redevelopment agency on the ambitious project and explore the feasibility of developing a portion of the site. —

Jamie Goldberg, oregonlive, 17 Jan. 2023 Second, even modest drug-pricing negotiation regulations would have ensured that Biogen could not set an astronomical and irrational starting price. —

Daniel Eisenkraft Klein, STAT, 17 Jan. 2023 Because practically every negotiation mistake in the book was made. —

Jack Nasher, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023 Meanwhile, the Biden administration has said there are no plans for such cuts, or negotiation at all, on something that should be a bipartisan move to avoid crisis. —

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 13 Jan. 2023 The law sets a nine-year exemption period for drugs that are mainly pills, while biologics, generally injections or infusions, are protected from negotiation for 13 years. —

Ed Silverman, STAT, 13 Jan. 2023 See More

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.

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

Time Traveler

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

See more words from the same century