What does negotiator mean?
A negotiator is a person who discusses issues with one or more counterparties in order to reach an agreement, settle a dispute, or negotiate the terms of a transaction. The word is especially common in business, labor relations, law, diplomacy, and peace negotiations. A negotiator may be an employee, representative, adviser, diplomat, or independent professional, and the role can involve persuading, compromising, compromising interests, and finding practical solutions. The term is usually formal and neutral, although it can imply a person with skill, authority, or a specific mandate. In some contexts, “negotiator” emphasizes advocacy for a particular side, while “mediator” more often suggests helping people reach an agreement without taking one side’s part.
nounA person who discusses matters with others in order to reach an agreement or resolve a dispute. A negotiator may represent an individual, an organization, or a government.
- A person who negotiates with another person or group, especially in a dispute, transaction, or formal agreement.
"The two sides appointed a skilled negotiator to help resolve the dispute."
"Management and the union appointed an experienced negotiator to discuss the pay dispute."
"She served as the chief negotiator in the agreement with local communities."
The plural is used for two or more people involved in negotiation.
"The negotiators reached an agreement after several hours of discussion."
A negotiator turns disagreement into a workable agreement, often by finding interests that both sides can accept.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does negotiator come from?
The word negotiator comes from the same Latin root as negotiate, which derives from negotium, meaning “business” or “deal.” English borrowed the family of words in the 16th century, when negotiate came to mean conduct business through discussion and later to mean reach an agreement by discussion. Negotiation, negotiable, and negotiator developed from this shared root and are now cognate forms in modern English.
Related word forms
How negotiator is actually used
Generally formal and neutral. It is commonly used for business, labor, legal, diplomatic, and peace-related contexts, while mediator often suggests a more neutral or facilitative role.
Easily confused with negotiator
A negotiator seeks agreement through discussion, whereas a mediator often works more neutrally to help disputants communicate and reach a resolution.