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

• accommodation
• compromise
• concession
• give-and-take

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

Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. —Will Sammon, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025

Cordova said the bargaining committee, made up of union members, rejected the offer and negotiations ended when the labor contracts with King Soopers expired Jan. 17. —Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2025

Putin said the decree showed Ukraine was not interested in peace negotiations and would nullify any agreement made unless it was revoked. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

Parts of America’s new shelf overlap with those of the Bahamas, Canada, and Japan, prompting ongoing negotiations. —Jack Truesdale, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 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