quid pro quo

noun \ ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō \

Updated on: 7 May 2018

Definition of quid pro quo

: something given or received for something else; also : a deal arranging a quid pro quo

See quid pro quo defined for English-language learners

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Examples of quid pro quo in a Sentence

in politics nobody does something for nothing: there's always a quid pro quo involved

Recent Examples of quid pro quo from the Web

Investors of that company had donated to the Clinton Foundation, leading some conservatives to allege a quid pro quo (for which there is no evidence).

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Why the Clintons and The New York Times Can’t Get Along," 25 Apr. 2018
For example, Nader could shed light on what actually went down at the Seychelles meeting and whether Prince and Dmitriev discussed any kind of quid pro quo between Putin and Trump tied to Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election.

— zeeshan aleem, Vox, "A key Mueller witness has close ties to Russia," 5 Apr. 2018
LePage’s office adamantly rejected any suggestion of a quid pro quo.

— baltimoresun.com, "Judge who allowed Maryland lawsuit against Trump to proceed is called an 'imbecile' by Maine governor," 1 Apr. 2018
Manafort has previously denied any wrongdoing over the loans, and the bank has denied that there was a quid pro quo.

— andrew martin, Bloomberg.com, "Manafort Lender Asked About Pentagon Job After Trump Win, Lawmaker Says," 12 Apr. 2018
Lula’s lawyers say that Mr Moro did not show that the flat, which Lula never occupied or owned, was a quid pro quo for any action.

— The Economist, "Brazil’s Lula and government by judges," 5 Apr. 2018
While this context may feel far-removed from the quid pro quo involved in exchanging favors with colleagues, friends and family, past research on reciprocity suggests the same principles likely apply.

— amanda chuan, Scientific American, "When Do Favors Expire?," 13 Mar. 2018
Today, as Brexit looms, the quid pro quo is poised to become more complicated as the plane maker faces growing pressure from countries that buy the bulk of its planes to shift some manufacturing onto their shores.

— carol matlack, Bloomberg.com, "Airbus Outgrows Its European Home," 7 Feb. 2018
That view would protect against foreign attempts to corruptly influence presidential actions, including classic quid pro quo bribery.

— warren richey, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Trump emoluments case, questions of ethics and constitutional intent," 23 Mar. 2018

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

quid pro quo and the Apothecary

In the early 16th century, a quid pro quo was something obtained from an apothecary. That's because when quid pro quo (New Latin for "something for something") was first used in English, it referred to the process of substituting one medicine for another—whether intentionally (and sometimes fraudulently) or accidentally. The meaning of the phrase was quickly extended, however, and within several decades it was being used for more general equivalent exchanges. These days, it often occurs in legal contexts.

Origin and Etymology of quid pro quo

New Latin, something for something

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1582

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

quid pro quo Synonyms

Synonyms

back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, exchange, swap, trade, trade-off, truck;

Related Words

replacement, substitution;

reciprocation, recompense, requital;

bargain, deal, horse trade, negotiation, transaction;

bargaining, dealing, dickering, haggling, horse trading;

logrolling;

Financial Definition of QUID PRO QUO

quid pro quo

noun

What It Is

Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase that literally means "something for something." The phrase usually indicates an exchange of goods or services of roughly equivalent value.

How It Works

From a legal perspective, quid pro quo indicates that a good or service has been traded for something of equal value. In particular, quid pro quo is used explicitly to indicate that there has been "consideration" in a contract, meaning that there are goods or services being delivered and that acceptable payment is made for these goods or services. Without consideration, or quid pro quo, for example, a contract may be determined to be nonbinding and invalid.

In the political world, for example, quid pro quo sometimes refers to giving support, financial or otherwise, to a political candidate in exchange for the expectation of direct support for an activity of the political benefactor. Quid pro quo may appear as bribery in these cases and such support must always be tested for conflicts of interest.

Why It Matters

Quid pro quo is one of the most common Latin legal terms used. In any transaction, legal, political or otherwise, it is helpful to know the quid pro quo, that is, the balance of the value of the service or good and the financial compensation being offered.

Source: Investing Answers