negotiation
Formal dispute discussion
Negotiation is the process of discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.
Parties with different interests negotiate terms—over contracts, salaries, treaties, or hostage situations.
The word implies back-and-forth: proposals, counteroffers, compromise.
After weeks of negotiation, they settled on a price.
Something open to negotiation can still be changed through discussion.
Dispute price persistently
- dealAgreement or distribution
- offerProposal to provide
- counterofferAlternative terms proposed back
- bidOffer to purchase
concession · trade-off · exchange · barter · quid pro quo · leverage · settlement · adjustment
Yielding a point
- middle-groundIntermediate position between extremes
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
accommodation · win-win · common ground · splitting the difference · balance · reconciliation · consensus · understanding
Fastening securely to position
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- flinchingInvoluntary recoil response
- highballSpirit lengthened with mixer
- lowballDeliberately understate cost
silence · good cop/bad cop · deadline pressure · escalation · caucusing · logrolling · nibbling · bracketing
Official foreign representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- accordHarmony between parties
summit · protocol · international-relations · mediation · alliance · détente · rapprochement · entente
Arranging for future events
- preparationArranging things in advance
- BATNABest option outside talks
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- anchoringFastening securely to position
positioning · interests · objectives · agenda · framing · timing · coalition-building · integrative
Exchange of ideas
- talksSpeaks with others
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- consultationMeeting seeking expert guidance
conference · parley · communication · exchange · discourse · engagement · back-and-forth · stakeholder
Shared position between parties
- termsConditions of an agreement
- clausesGrammatical or legal units
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
binding · provisions · ratification · amendment · stipulations · termination · confidentiality · arbitration
haggle
Dispute price persistently
- dealAgreement or distribution
- offerProposal to provide
- counterofferAlternative terms proposed back
bid · concession · trade-off · exchange · barter · quid pro quo · leverage · settlement · adjustment · walkaway
concession
Yielding a point
- middle-groundIntermediate position between extremes
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
flexibility · accommodation · win-win · common ground · splitting the difference · balance · reconciliation · consensus · understanding · agreement
anchoring
Fastening securely to position
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- flinchingInvoluntary recoil response
- highballSpirit lengthened with mixer
lowball · silence · good cop/bad cop · deadline pressure · escalation · caucusing · logrolling · nibbling · bracketing · red herring
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- treatyBinding pact between nations
accord · summit · protocol · international-relations · mediation · alliance · détente · rapprochement · entente · armistice
planning
Arranging for future events
- preparationArranging things in advance
- BATNABest option outside talks
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
anchoring · positioning · interests · objectives · agenda · framing · timing · coalition-building · integrative · distributive
discussion
Exchange of ideas
- talksSpeaks with others
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
consultation · conference · parley · communication · exchange · discourse · engagement · back-and-forth · stakeholder · counterpart
agreement
Shared position between parties
obligations · binding · provisions · ratification · amendment · stipulations · termination · confidentiality · arbitration · liability
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- peacepeace, peaceful, peacefully, peace sign, peace symbol
- group activitiesgroup games, voting, protest, group dance, group project
- barterswap, barter, trade, exchange, haggling
- communication skillspersuasion, active listening, empathy, body language, storytelling
- conflict responsesavoidance, confrontation, compromise, accommodation, aggression
- hostage negotiationsDialogue to release captives
- diplomatic negotiationOfficial discussion between nations
- negotiating tableForum for reaching agreement
- trade negotiationTalks to set commerce terms
- peace negotiationsDiplomatic talks ending conflict
- salary negotiationDiscussing compensation terms