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

The system was created in 2016, and during the two-plus years of bitter negotiations on an extension, teams begged for the renewable charters to be made permanent for revenue stability. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

Orr and his attorney claimed that the state suddenly became interested in the life ring during negotiations, and the lieutenant was aware that Orr owned it. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Nittany Lions are in the final stages of negotiations to name Campbell as the next head coach. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

While trade negotiations are ongoing between the two countries, a deal has yet to be finalized. —Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025

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

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration