Word
negotiator
Phoneticsne·go·tia·tor
US/nəˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪtɝ/
UK/nɪɡˈəʊʃɪˌeɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who helps people or groups reach an agreement. They are usually experts at talking through problems to find a solution that everyone accepts.
n. a person who conducts discussions with others to reach a formal agreement or settlement. Often implies a professional role in business, law, or international diplomacy.
Examples
“The company hired a professional negotiator to help with the contract.”
“After hours of difficult talks, the lead negotiator finally convinced both sides to sign the peace treaty.”
“A skilled negotiator must balance the competing interests of multiple stakeholders while maintaining a neutral stance to ensure the final agreement remains sustainable and fair for all parties involved.”
Examples
simple
“The company hired a professional negotiator to help with the contract.”
contextual
“After hours of difficult talks, the lead negotiator finally convinced both sides to sign the peace treaty.”
complex
“A skilled negotiator must balance the competing interests of multiple stakeholders while maintaining a neutral stance to ensure the final agreement remains sustainable and fair for all parties involved.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the party being represented.
Real-World Examples
“Canadian negotiators have been camped out in Washington for a week, trying to pin down some agreement before new 50% tariffs on some $20bn (C$28bn) worth of Canadian imports come into effect on Wednesday.” “He and chief negotiator Janice Charette have been in regular meetings with Trump’s chief negotiator Jamieson Greer.” “The extension is welcome news for Canadian negotiators and for businesses on both sides of the border, who have warned that the new tariffs would be harmful to both countries.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin negōtiātor (“merchant, banker”), equivalent to negotiate + -or.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/negotiator