Synonyms of quid pro quo

quid pro quo

noun

ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō 

as in exchange

a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exchange
• truck
• swap
• trade
• barter
• dealing
• commutation
• back-and-forth
• deal
• substitution
• bargaining
• bargain
• trade-off
• replacement
• dicker
• transaction
• horse trade
• negotiation
• horse trading
• reciprocation
• recompense
• dickering
• haggling
• requital
• logrolling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quid pro quo

An early version of the Orb, which looked like a miniature Death Star, spat out physical coins, like a slot machine, presumably to make the point about the quid pro quo to people who might not quite comprehend blockchain. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

The same deal was also being considered under Joe Biden, and then too enrichment was a quid pro quo for recognising Israel. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 9 Aug. 2026

One person recalls Sanberg saying that the Leonard deal came with an understanding the team and the company would work on more deals together, and that the two were linked, though not as an explicit quid pro quo. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 14 July 2026

The Louisiana Supreme Court said there was no evidence the payment was a quid pro quo, but concluded Reeves’ decision to accept the money created the appearance that people willing to pay could receive favorable treatment. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

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