# bargain

/ˈbɑɹɡən/ (US) · /bˈɑːɡɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bargain
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a cheap purchase

noun · CEFR B1

something bought for a much lower price than usual.

For teachers: an advantageous purchase, typically one acquired at a price significantly below the market value.

- I found this designer jacket for twenty dollars; it was a real bargain.
- The antique dealer realised the painting was a bargain only after he had already committed to the sale at the lower price.

### 2. an agreement

noun · CEFR B2

an agreement between two people or groups where each side promises to do something.

For teachers: a mutual agreement or contract between parties concerning the exchange of goods, services, or obligations.

- We made a bargain: I would cook dinner if he did the dishes.
- The union and the management finally struck a bargain that satisfied the workers' demands for better safety protocols.

### 3. to negotiate

verb · CEFR B2

to talk with someone to try to get a lower price or a better deal.

For teachers: to negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction or agreement; often intransitive when describing the act of haggling.

- You should try to bargain with the street vendors to get a better price.
- The diplomats spent several weeks bargaining for the release of the political prisoners before a formal treaty was signed.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with' for the person and 'for' for the object.

## Examples

- This leather jacket was a real bargain.
- She found a great bargain at the local market, buying a high-quality winter coat for half the original price.
- While the initial price seemed like a bargain, the hidden maintenance costs eventually made the investment far more expensive than a newer model would have been.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.