ENGLISH
REFERENCE

negotiate

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪt// UK //nɪɡˈəʊʃɪˌeɪt// ne·go·ti·ate Archaic General-service

v. to have a formal discussion with someone to reach an agreement that works for both sides. You use this when buying a house or asking for a higher salary.

v. to conduct formal discussions with another party to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Transitive when taking a direct object like a contract, or intransitive when followed by a prepositional phrase.


SIMPLE

I need to negotiate a better price for the car.

CONTEXTUAL

The union leaders met with management to negotiate a new contract regarding safer working conditions and higher pay.

COMPLEX

Skilled diplomats must negotiate with patience, balancing the immediate needs of their constituents against the long-term stability of international relations to ensure a sustainable peace treaty.

Origin

c. 1598; borrowed from Latin negōtiātus, perfect active participle of negōtior (“to do business, trade”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from negotium (“business”) + -or, from nec (“not”) + otium (“leisure, ease, inactivity”).

Usage

Commonly used with the preposition 'with' for the party involved and 'for' or 'over' for the subject of the discussion.

Pitfall

negotiate with a better salarynegotiate for a better salaryUse 'with' for the person or group you are talking to, and 'for' for the thing you want to obtain.

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