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International Relations & Diplomacy vocabulary · Negotiation & Summit Language

Concession

Meaning in international relations & diplomacy, with examples

/kənˈseʃən/nounCommon term

In international relations & diplomacy, concession means: Something that one side in a negotiation agrees to give up or accept in order to move closer to an agreement with the other side.

In Turkish: taviz, ödün

How it is used

Parties 'make', 'offer', 'demand', 'win' or 'extract' concessions; 'mutual concessions' means both sides give something. Because a concession can be presented at home as weakness, officials often prefer the word 'compromise'. In business, 'concession' also means a special right or a discount.

Example sentences

  1. Both sides made important concessions in the final round.

  2. The delegation refused to make any concessions on the main issue.

  3. In return for the concession, the other side agreed to extend the deadline.

Common collocations

  • make concessions
  • mutual concessions
  • win a concession
  • major concession
  • in return for concessions
  • compromiseAn agreement in which each side gives up part of what it wanted so that both can accept the result; the same word is a verb meaning to reach such an agreement.
  • negotiationFormal discussion between parties who are trying to reach an agreement, in which each side presents its position, makes proposals and may accept compromises.
  • red lineA limit that a government says must not be crossed, often with a warning that crossing it will lead to a serious response.
  • common groundOpinions, interests or aims that two or more sides share, which can serve as a starting point for agreement.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Negotiation & Summit Language

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