negotiate
nuh-GOH-shee-ayt
/nəˈɡoʊʃieɪt/
To try to reach an agreement or compromise by discussion with others.
Can refer to both the high-level diplomatic process and the physical act of maneuvering through an obstacle (e.g., 'negotiating a sharp turn').
The story behind the word. A fascinating origin: it comes from 'neg-' (not) and 'otium' (leisure). To the Romans, doing business was literally 'not-leisure'. It was the busy, active work of trade and law.
Word relationships
- bargain: Bargain is more informal and often implies haggling over a specific price.
- parley: Parley specifically refers to a discussion between enemies during a conflict.
- dictate: Dictate is to give orders without any room for discussion or compromise.
Commonly confused with
- mediate: Negotiate is done by the parties involved; mediate is done by a neutral third party.
Word family
- negotiation (noun): The process of negotiating.
- negotiable (adjective): Open to discussion or modification.
Collocations
- negotiate a settlement
- negotiate a deal
- successfully negotiate
- negotiate terms
Example sentences
- "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate." Diplomacy
- "The union leaders met with management to negotiate a new contract regarding overtime pay." Business
Memory hook
NEGOTIATE is what you do when you are NOT (neg) at LEISURE (otium). Business is not leisure.
When not to use
Avoid using it when there is no back-and-forth; if you are just following orders, you aren't negotiating.
Fun facts
- The word 'negotiate' was first used in English in the context of diplomacy before it became common in general business.
Related words
Explore more words
negotiation, diplomacy, compromise, broker, mediate, diplomat
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