noun
bargain
BAH-guhn
noun
1
An item bought for noticeably less than its usual price; a good deal.
"At half price, that coat was an absolute bargain."
"She found a real bargain on last season's shoes."
2
An agreement between two parties, especially over a sale or exchange.
"They struck a bargain over the price of the car."
verb
1
To negotiate the terms of a deal, especially over price; to haggle.
"He bargained with the market seller until they agreed on a price."
How to Use Bargain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a good deal on a purchase, or the act of negotiating one.
Common mistake
The phrase "bargain for" means to expect or anticipate something, usually something unwelcome, as in "more than I bargained for" — distinct from "bargain with" (to negotiate).
Common pairings
strike a bargain
bargain price
bargain with someone
bargain hunter
Word Forms
bargained past tense, bargains plural, bargains singular
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At half price, that coat was an absolute _____.
Etymology
From Old French bargaignier, tracing back to a Germanic root meaning "to borrow or lend" — the sense shifted over time from lending to trading and negotiating.