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negotiator

negotiator

171 4.6
A person who talks with others to reach an agreement
  • noun
  • /nɪˈɡoʊʃiˌeɪtər/
translation icon : negociador
  • As a skilled negotiator, she successfully brokered a deal between the two companies.
  • chief negotiator
  • trade negotiator
  • senior negotiator

We had and my son, my son Brandon, who's my chief negotiator, hates not making deals.

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Examples

  • Despite all this, she was a very skilled and tough negotiator in corporate law, a striking and forceful woman.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • In this capacity, he served as Deputy Chief U.S. Negotiator for U.S.-Canada Free Trade negotiations.

    Academic text (1991)
  • We have a UN negotiator coming in.

  • I knew him when he was a trade negotiator for the government dealing with the Japanese.

  • He's the greatest negotiator of all time now.

  • A settlement seemed within reach, but then the negotiators made a key discovery.

  • Negotiators have reached a stalemate, and the situation right now is tense.

  • He was one of the negotiators on the Athenian team.

  • With the parties' strategies clashing, negotiators are at an impasse.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The senior negotiator presented a new plan to resolve the ongoing dispute.

Synonyms

diplomat
vsnegotiator
49 4.4

A person who helps people or groups agree by dealing carefully with them

is the neutral role focused simply on reaching agreement
mediator
vsnegotiator
45 4.0

A person who helps two people or groups reach an agreement without taking sides

is any formal discussion participant rather than a neutral third party
peacemaker
vsnegotiator
23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

is centered on reaching specific agreements in formal discussions
deal maker
vsnegotiator
7 3.8

A person who is good at arranging agreements in business or politics

applies more generally to any formal bargaining situation
dealmaker
vsnegotiator
4 4.3

A person who makes and negotiates business deals between companies

covers that arranging role but also other formal bargaining contexts
intercessor
vsnegotiator
2 8.8

A person who helps two people or groups agree

is the active participant in discussions rather than someone intervening for others
bargainer
vsnegotiator
1 3.7

A person who talks with others to get better terms

is broader, applying to formal discussions beyond simple transactions
conciliator
vsnegotiator
1 7.0

A person who helps two people or groups stop arguing and reach an agreement

focuses on formal settlement discussions rather than general peacebuilding
horse trader
vsnegotiator
1 6.3

A person who uses tough methods to get better deals

is the neutral negotiating role without implied hard tactics
diplomatist
vsnegotiator
1 7.9

A person who works for their country and talks with other countries to make agreements

is a general term for anyone participating in formal bargaining
intermediator
vsnegotiator
1 7.7

A person who helps two sides talk and reach an agreement

can be a direct party to talks rather than an intermediary
reconciler
vsnegotiator
1 6.3

A person who helps people become friendly again after a disagreement

is the direct participant in bargaining instead of repairing relationships
treater
vsnegotiator
  • Jargon
8.1

A person who talks with others to reach an agreement

is the common neutral term for that role in formal bargaining
negotiatress
vsnegotiator
  • Archaic
9.9

A woman who talks with others to make an agreement in older texts

is the neutral modern term without gender marking
negotiatrix
vsnegotiator
  • Archaic
9.9

A woman who talks with people to reach an agreement

is the neutral modern term used regardless of gender
transactor
vsnegotiator
8.1

A person who does business or makes deals

has wider use beyond purely commercial transactions
representationist
vsnegotiator
8.9

A person who acts for someone in talks or negotiations

can be the direct party in talks rather than an appointed agent
true diplomat
vsnegotiator
5.5

A person who handles difficult talks calmly and keeps peace

is the general participant term without implying exceptional tact
seasoned horsetrader
vsnegotiator
7.9

A person very good at making deals and getting better terms

describes the general role without stressing extreme skill or toughness

How Skilled

diplomat
  • Formal
223 3.6
mediator
45 4.0
negotiator
171 4.6
bargainer
1 3.7
participant
295 2.4

Surface Forms

negotiator singular
negotiators plural

Morphology

negotiator = negotiate (transparent) = negotiate + or

Clear agentive formation from the verb 'negotiate' with the standard suffix '-or', so the meaning 'a person who negotiates' is directly derived.

Etymology

Negotiator comes from the Latin word negotium, which means 'business' and is made from ne- 'not' + otium 'free time'. So a negotiator is literally someone who handles business or deals, which is why today it means a person who talks to reach an agreement.