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Meaning & use

business deal

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈbɪz.nɪs ˌdiːl/
US/ˈbɪz.nɪs ˌdiːl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    An agreement between companies or people to buy, sell or work together for profit.

    Grammar: Countable: make a business deal, sign a business deal.

    Patterns

    • a business deal with someone
    • a business deal between someone and someone

    The two firms signed a business deal worth ten million dollars.

    Her first business deal was selling handmade candles to a local store.

    A lucrative business deal brought the factory new customers.

  2. nouncountable

    A single piece of business done between two sides, often involving a bargain or negotiation.

    Grammar: Countable; often suggests something that was bargained over or hurried through.

    Patterns

    • strike a business deal
    • close a business deal

    They shook hands after striking a business deal over lunch.

    The business deal fell through when the buyer withdrew.

    He spent the weekend trying to close a business deal in Dubai.

Word forms

pluralbusiness deals

Common combinations

strike a business deal
The partners struck a business deal after weeks of talks.
sign a business deal
The CEO will sign a business deal on Friday.
a lucrative business deal
The agency landed a lucrative business deal with a car maker.
negotiate a business deal
She helped negotiate a business deal between the suppliers.
seal a business deal
They sealed the business deal with a handshake.
a shady business deal
The investigation uncovered a shady business deal.

Synonyms and how they differ

transaction
A transaction is a single exchange of money for goods or services and sounds more formal and mechanical than business deal.
contract
A contract is the written, legally binding agreement, whereas a business deal can also be an informal understanding.
agreement
Agreement is broader and need not involve money or trade, so it is less specifically commercial.
bargain
A bargain usually means something bought cheaply, so it focuses on price rather than the arrangement.

Word family

deal noun
an agreement, especially in business
deal verb
to trade or take action about something
dealer noun
a person who buys and sells goods
dealmaker noun
a person who is good at arranging deals
business noun
trade or commercial activity

Commonly confused: business deal or business transaction?

business deal vs business transaction

A business transaction is a single payment or exchange, while a business deal may cover a long arrangement with many exchanges.

Practice

After weeks of negotiation, the two companies finally ______ a business deal worth millions.

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