bargaining chip
noun
: something that can be used to gain an advantage when trying to make a deal or an agreement
The workers used the threat of a strike as a bargaining chip in their negotiations.
Examples of bargaining chip in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As president-elect and president, he’s said the statutory threshold should either be eliminated or extended but previously urged Republicans to use it as a bargaining chip under Democratic presidents.
—
Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
What To Know The chunk of territory held by Kyiv's forces has provided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations, particularly on the difficult issue of territory, in the face of Russian gains in Ukraine's east.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025
Don't be surprised if Beijing and Washington use this impasse as a bargaining chip in tariff talks.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
In February, the Financial Times reported that Chinese officials were considering using Tesla’s question for approval for self-driving as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the Trump administration.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bargaining chip
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
What To Know The chunk of territory held by Kyiv's forces has provided Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations, particularly on the difficult issue of territory, in the face of Russian gains in Ukraine's east.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 23 Mar. 2025
Don't be surprised if Beijing and Washington use this impasse as a bargaining chip in tariff talks.
—Dan Primack, Axios, 19 Mar. 2025
In February, the Financial Times reported that Chinese officials were considering using Tesla’s question for approval for self-driving as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations with the Trump administration.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bargaining chip
Cite this Entry
“Bargaining chip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bargaining%20chip. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share