negotiation

noun

ne·​go·​ti·​a·​tion ni-ˌgō-shē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce negotiation (audio)
nonstandard
-sē- How to pronounce negotiation (audio)
Synonyms of negotiationnext
: the action or process of negotiating or being negotiated
—often plural
Negotiations between the two governments have failed to produce an agreement.

Synonyms of negotiation

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Sun enters your 7th House, beginning a month that puts partnerships, collaborations, negotiations, and important one-on-one relationships in greater focus. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026 Lula has rejected the allegations while continuing negotiations with Washington, and has increasingly made the defense of Brazilian sovereignty a central point of his campaign. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 The officials hope the blow will make Iran more amenable to negotiations. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 Negotiations so far After multiple extensions of the 2022-2025 contract, the CSU and CFA began negotiations over a new agreement in November. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for negotiation

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

Phrases Containing negotiation

Rhymes for negotiation

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Browse Nearby Words

negotiate
negotiation
negotiator
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Cite this Entry

“Negotiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/negotiation. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on negotiation

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about negotiation

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