bargain

[ bahr-guhn ]

noun

1. an advantageous purchase, especially one acquired at less than the usual cost:

   The sale offered bargains galore.

2. an agreement between parties settling what each shall give and take or perform and receive in a transaction.

   Synonyms: transaction, arrangement, stipulation

3. such an agreement as affecting one of the parties:

   a losing bargain.

4. something acquired by bargaining.
5. Informal. an agreeable person, especially one who causes no trouble or difficulty (usually used in negative constructions):

   His boss is no bargain.

verb (used without object)

1. to discuss the terms of a bargain; haggle; negotiate.
2. to come to an agreement; make a bargain:

   We bargained on a three-year term.

   Synonyms: covenant, contract

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange by bargain; negotiate:

   to bargain a new wage increase.

2. to anticipate as likely to occur; expect (usually followed by a clause):

   I'll bargain that he's going to give those company directors plenty of trouble.

verb phrase

1. to expect or anticipate; count or rely on:

   You can't bargain on what she'll do in this situation.

2. to anticipate or take into account:

   The job turned out to be more than he had bargained for.

bargain

/ ˈbɑːɡɪn /

noun

1. an agreement or contract establishing what each party will give, receive, or perform in a transaction between them
2. something acquired or received in such an agreement
3. 1. something bought or offered at a low price

      a bargain at an auction

   2. ( as modifier )

      a bargain price

4. into the bargain or in the bargain
   in excess of what has been stipulated; besides
5. make a bargain or strike a bargain
   to agree on terms

verb

1. intr to negotiate the terms of an agreement, transaction, etc
2. tr to exchange, as in a bargain
3. to arrive at (an agreement or settlement)

Derived Forms

• ˈbargainer, noun
• ˈbargaining, nounadjective

Other Words From

• bargain·a·ble adjective
• bargain·er noun
• outbargain verb (used with object)
• pre·bargain verb (used with object)
• pro·bargain·ing adjective
• un·bargained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bargain¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English bargaynen, from Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ner, probably from Frankish borganjan (unrecorded); cognate with Old High German bor(a)gēn “to look after” ( German borgen “to lend”); (for the noun) Middle English bargayn, from Anglo-French, Old French bargai(g)ne, bargain, derivative of the verb; borrow

Word History and Origins

Origin of bargain¹

C14: from Old French bargaigne , from bargaignier to trade, of Germanic origin; compare Medieval Latin barcāniāre to trade, Old English borgian to borrow

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in / into the bargain, over and above what has been stipulated; moreover; besides:

   The new housekeeper proved to be a fine cook in the bargain.

2. strike a bargain, to make a bargain; agree to terms:

   They were unable to strike a bargain because the owner's asking price was more than the prospective buyer could afford.

More idioms and phrases containing bargain

In addition to the idiom beginning with bargain , also see drive a bargain ; into the bargain ; make the best of it (a bad bargain) ; more than one bargained for ; strike a bargain .

Synonym Study

See agreement. See trade.

Example Sentences

It is thought that the decision was made in part to help Ukraine hold on to part of the Kursk region, to use as a bargaining chip in future negotiations.

From BBC

But before his discharge, he decided to write a guidebook, “The G.I.’s Guide to Travelling in Europe,” which featured some of those bargain finds and became the model for “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day.”

From New York Times

Use of the missiles, capable of targeting military facilities deep inside Russia, could complicate Russia’s efforts, enabling Ukraine to hold onto this valuable bargaining chip ahead of any possible peace talks next year.

From BBC

They serve their superiors reliably yet sometimes secretly, occasionally contravening their superiors' domestic interests by distorting what they tell them about bargains being struck with adversaries to hold off blood-dimmed tides.

From Salon

But if there is a reshuffle of the Middle Eastern political cards, a bargain over Sudan might be a by-product, even an opportunity for Trump to bask in the glow of an unexpected peacemaker.

From BBC

Related Words

• arrangement
• contract
• deal
• negotiation
• pact
• transaction
• understanding