negotiate a contract

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "negotiate a contract" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to discuss and come to an agreement on the terms and conditions of a contract with another party. Example: I was able to successfully negotiate a contract with the vendor, securing a lower price for our company's supplies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Did you negotiate a contract?

The New Yorker

He was ready to talk, negotiate a contract and sign.

The Guardian - Sport

Lombardi will also want to negotiate a contract extension for Quick, the postseason's most valuable player.

The New York Times

ESPN has the first chance to negotiate a contract with the Big East next September.

The New York Times - Sports

The Dodgers have 30 days to negotiate a contract with Ryu and his agent, Scott Boras.

The New York Times - Sports

Since then, Mr. Poll has also been unable to negotiate a contract with the city.

The New York Times

Union officials said they would now seek to negotiate a contract with the cleaning subcontractor.

The New York Times

He recalled another appointment at Bethlehem Records, where he had gone to negotiate a contract.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some agents will negotiate a contract, and then go years without doing another.

The New York Times - Sports

Now the Lakers and Bryant's agent will negotiate a contract extension.

The New York Times

It's a shame to try to use something like that to try to negotiate a contract.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "negotiate a contract", ensure that you've clearly identified the parties involved and the subject of the contract. This provides context and clarity to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "negotiate a contract" without specifying what type of contract is being negotiated (e.g. a sales contract, a service contract). Always include the specific context of the contract being discussed to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "negotiate a contract" functions as a verb phrase, where "negotiate" is the verb and "a contract" is the object. It indicates the action of discussing and arranging the terms of a formal agreement. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage. Examples show it's used in contexts ranging from business deals to sports agreements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "negotiate a contract" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe the process of discussing and agreeing upon the terms of a contract. As verified by Ludwig AI, the phrase sees frequent use in contexts such as news and media, science, and formal business. It is essential to specify the type of contract being negotiated for clarity. Alternatives like "broker an agreement" or "finalize a contract" offer nuanced options depending on the specific situation. When writing, ensure you clearly define the involved parties and the contract's subject. Finally, according to usage patterns, this is most common in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finalize a contract

Highlights bringing the contract to its complete and finished form.

settle a contract

Highlights the resolution and finalization of the contract terms.

broker an agreement

Focuses on the act of mediating to reach an agreement, implying a neutral third party.

conclude an agreement

Emphasizes the act of formally finishing or closing the deal.

secure a contract

Highlights the achievement of obtaining a contract through effort.

draw up a contract

Emphasizes the drafting or formal creation of the contract document.

enter into a contract

Emphasizes the act of formally starting or beginning the contractual relationship.

hammer out a deal

Implies a more intense and potentially difficult negotiation process.

formulate an agreement

Focuses on the careful and detailed development of the agreement.

arrange a contract

Focuses on the planning and organization aspects of setting up the contract.

FAQs

How to use "negotiate a contract" in a sentence?

You can use "negotiate a contract" in a sentence like this: "The company hired a lawyer to "negotiate a contract" with the supplier."

What can I say instead of "negotiate a contract"?

You can use alternatives like "settle a contract", "finalize a contract", or "broker an agreement" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "negotiate a contract" or "negotiate the contract"?

"Negotiate a contract" is generally used when referring to the process of discussing terms to create a new contract. "Negotiate the contract" is used when referring to renegotiating terms of an existing specific contract.

What's the difference between "negotiate a contract" and "draft a contract"?

"Negotiate a contract" refers to the discussions and bargaining to reach an agreement on terms, while "draft a contract" refers to the actual writing of the contract document itself.