Able to be discussed or changed to reach an agreement; able to be exchanged for money or transferred; possible to travel across.
The job offer looked good, but the salary was lower than expected. Luckily, the recruiter mentioned that the package was fully negotiable, so the candidate prepared a list of reasons to ask for more. By the next meeting, they had agreed on a much better deal.
This meaning is about something that can still be adjusted through discussion. Imagine you see a flat for rent and the listing says “price negotiable.” That means the landlord is open to offers and willing to discuss a lower amount. This is something being negotiable — flexible and open to change. You might say “the deadline is negotiable” or someone could ask “is the salary negotiable?” Or picture a couple planning their wedding where almost everything is negotiable except the date. The word suggests room for discussion and compromise. ✏️ The opposite is “non-negotiable” — meaning absolutely fixed, with no room for discussion at all.
Vivid example: The freelancer received a contract with strict terms. She noticed that the payment schedule was listed as negotiable, so she proposed getting paid in two parts instead of one. The client agreed without hesitation.
This meaning is about financial documents that can be turned into money or passed to someone else. Imagine you receive a check from a client. If that check is negotiable, it means you can take it to the bank and cash it or sign it over to another person. This is a negotiable instrument — a document with real transferable value. You might hear “the bonds are negotiable through any major bank” or “make sure the check is negotiable before accepting it.” Or think about a company issuing negotiable securities that investors can freely buy and sell. The word here is purely financial and legal. ✏️ A “non-negotiable” check means only the named person can cash it — it cannot be transferred to anyone else.
Vivid example: The investor wanted to sell some of her holdings quickly. Her broker confirmed that the certificates were fully negotiable, meaning they could be transferred to a buyer immediately. The whole transaction was completed within a day.
This meaning is about a path or route that can be passed through despite being difficult. Imagine heavy rain has flooded parts of a country road. You stop and check whether the road ahead is still negotiable before driving on. This is describing a route as negotiable — passable but possibly challenging. You might hear “the trail is negotiable with good boots” or someone could report “the mountain pass is barely negotiable in winter.” Or picture hikers checking if a river crossing is negotiable before attempting it with their gear. The word suggests difficulty but possibility. ✏️ This connects to the verb “negotiate” meaning to move through something difficult — if a path is negotiable, it can be managed with care.
Vivid example: After days of heavy snow, the mountain road was almost impassable. A local driver confirmed it was still negotiable with the right tyres, but warned that conditions could change fast. The team decided to go slowly and stay alert.
Examples from the street:
“The price is negotiable — just make them an offer.” → The amount they’re asking for isn’t fixed — go ahead and suggest a lower figure
“Sorry, but this is non-negotiable. The report has to be done by Friday.” → I’m not budging on this — the report must be finished by the end of the week, no exceptions
“Everything’s negotiable if you know how to ask.” → You can change the terms of practically anything as long as you approach it the right way
Negotiable as open to discussion/change — VERY COMMON:
– [something] is negotiable → the terms/price/conditions can be discussed and changed
– the price/salary is negotiable → the amount isn’t fixed and can be adjusted
– non-negotiable → absolutely fixed; cannot be changed or discussed
– everything is negotiable → common saying meaning all terms can potentially be changed
– negotiable terms/conditions → details of a deal that are open to discussion
Negotiable in finance/law (formal):
– negotiable instrument → a document (cheque, bill) that can be transferred to another person
– negotiable securities → financial documents that can be bought, sold, or transferred
– freely negotiable → can be exchanged or transferred without restrictions
Example Sentences
1. The landlord said the rent is negotiable if we’re willing to sign a two-year contract
→ The property owner said the monthly payment could be adjusted if we agree to commit for twenty-four months.
2. The job listing says £45,000, but the salary is negotiable depending on experience
→ The advert mentions forty-five thousand, but the pay can be discussed and adjusted based on how qualified you are.
3. Bedtime at eight o’clock is completely non-negotiable — I don’t care how much they complain
→ Lights out at eight is absolutely fixed — it doesn’t matter how much the kids protest or whine about it.
4. In this market, everything is negotiable — the sticker price is just a starting point
→ At this bazaar, every amount can be discussed — the figure on the tag is only an opening offer.
5. The delivery date is firm, but the payment schedule has negotiable terms
→ The shipping deadline is fixed, but the plan for when you pay each instalment is flexible and open to discussion.
6. I told my boss that my day off on Fridays is non-negotiable — it’s the only time I see my kids
→ I made it clear to my manager that having the last day of the week free is something I absolutely won’t give up — it’s my only chance to spend time with my children.
7. The contract includes several negotiable conditions that we’d like to revisit before signing
→ The agreement contains a number of flexible clauses that we want to look at again and discuss before we put pen to paper.
8. A cheque is a negotiable instrument — it can be signed over to a third party
→ A written bank order is a transferable financial document — it can be endorsed and handed to someone else to cash.
9. She made it clear that respect in the workplace is non-negotiable — everyone deserves to be treated with dignity
→ She stated firmly that being treated properly at work is something she would never compromise on — every person deserves basic courtesy.
10. The bonds are freely negotiable on the open market and can be sold at any time
→ The investment certificates can be traded without any restrictions and the holder can offload them whenever they choose.
Learner Examples
1. Homework deadlines should be non-negotiable — once students realise you’ll extend them, they stop taking due dates seriously
→ Submission dates for assignments must be absolutely fixed — the moment learners figure out you’ll push them back, they stop caring about when things are actually due.
2. The amount of speaking practice you do is negotiable, but the commitment to practising every single day is not
→ How many minutes you spend talking in English each session is flexible and up to you, but showing up and doing it daily is something you can’t skip.
✔ Native usage tips
– “Non-negotiable” is far more common in everyday speech than “negotiable” — people use “non-negotiable” constantly about personal boundaries, parenting rules, and workplace expectations. “My morning coffee is non-negotiable” is a perfectly normal thing to say. “Negotiable” on its own appears mostly in job adverts and sales contexts
– “OBO” in classified ads stands for “or best offer” — it means the price is negotiable — when you see “£300 OBO” on a second-hand listing, the seller is signalling they’ll accept less. In British ads, you might also see “ONO” meaning “or nearest offer” — same idea
– “Negotiable” in finance means something very specific — a “negotiable instrument” (cheques, promissory notes) is a legal document that can be transferred to another person. Most learners will never need this meaning, but it’s worth knowing it exists so you don’t get confused in formal business texts
– Pronunciation trap: it’s /nɪˈɡəʊ.ʃə.bəl/ not /nɪˈɡəʊ.si.ə.bəl/ — many learners add an extra syllable. The “-tiable” part sounds like “shuh-bul,” just like in “appreciate” where the “-ciate” sounds like “she-ate”
– “Non-negotiable” has become a social media and self-help buzzword — people list their “non-negotiables” in dating profiles, wellness routines, and life advice. “What are your non-negotiables in a relationship?” is a very trendy question. It means “what are the things you absolutely refuse to compromise on?”
– Don’t confuse “negotiable” with “debatable” — “negotiable” means the terms can be changed through discussion; “debatable” means the truth or correctness of something is uncertain. “The price is negotiable” means we can discuss a lower figure; “the price is debatable” means people disagree about whether it’s fair
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Flexible → softer and more informal than “negotiable”; used about schedules, arrangements, and attitudes; “I’m flexible on the dates” sounds warmer and more easygoing than “the dates are negotiable,” which sounds more transactional
– Open to discussion → a longer but very natural alternative; feels collaborative rather than commercial; “the budget is open to discussion” invites conversation while “the budget is negotiable” sounds like a price tag
– Fixed → the direct opposite; means absolutely no room for change; “the deadline is fixed” is clearer and more common in everyday speech than “the deadline is non-negotiable,” though both work in professional settings