zero-sum game
One gains, one loses
A zero-sum game is a situation where one party's gain exactly equals another's loss—the total remains constant.
The term comes from game theory, where winnings and losses sum to zero.
It extends to any competitive scenario where resources are fixed: Politics isn't a zero-sum game; both sides can benefit from compromise.
The phrase often appears when questioning whether competition is truly necessary.
Ongoing contest between opponents
- winnerOne who prevails
- loserDefeated competitor
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- defeatVictory over another
opponent · triumph · conquest · dominance · prevail · vanquish · head-to-head · outcompete
Worst-case loss reduction
- prisoner's dilemmaStrategic game theory scenario
- saddle pointStationary point, not extremum
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- non-cooperativeRefusing joint effort
two-player · optimal play · equilibrium · payoff · utility function
Rules governing international exchange
- tariffsTaxes on imports
- protectionismShielding local producers
- market sharePercentage of sector sales
- resource allocationAssigning available means strategically
mercantilism · trade war · quota · competitive advantage · rent-seeking · wealth transfer · redistribution · scarcity
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
concessions · bluffing · leverage · positioning · countermove · outmaneuver · gambit · brinkmanship
One party's gain, another's setback
- transferMove between locations
- redistributionSharing out again differently
- mutual exclusivityCannot both be true
- tradeoffExchange involving sacrifice
finite resources · conservation · symmetry · balance · offset · inverse relationship
rivalry
Ongoing contest between opponents
defeat · opponent · triumph · conquest · dominance · prevail · vanquish · head-to-head · outcompete · eliminate
minimax
Worst-case loss reduction
- prisoner's dilemmaStrategic game theory scenario
- saddle pointStationary point, not extremum
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
non-cooperative · two-player · optimal play · equilibrium · payoff · utility function
trade policy
Rules governing international exchange
- tariffsTaxes on imports
- protectionismShielding local producers
- market sharePercentage of sector sales
resource allocation · mercantilism · trade war · quota · competitive advantage · rent-seeking · wealth transfer · redistribution · scarcity · opportunity cost
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
trade-offs · concessions · bluffing · leverage · positioning · countermove · outmaneuver · gambit · brinkmanship · anticipation
win-lose
One party's gain, another's setback
- transferMove between locations
- redistributionSharing out again differently
- mutual exclusivityCannot both be true
tradeoff · finite resources · conservation · symmetry · balance · offset · inverse relationship
- game theoryprisoners dilemma, minimax, payoff, equilibrium, tit for tat
- strategic choicesprisoners dilemma, tradeoff, gambit, all-in, hedging
- competitioncompete, competitor, contender, winner, sports
- economicssupply and demand, inflation, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
zero-sum gamewin-win
Advantageous to both sides
win-win situation · synergy · value creation · lose-lose · wealth creation
zero-sum gamecooperation
Joint action toward shared aims
collaboration · cooperative game · mutualism · partnership · collective action
game, zero, games, summary, gaming, gamer, zeros, summation, zeroed