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
Myung-gi then uses his own baby as a bargaining chip, threatening to drop her if Gi-hun approaches.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 28 June 2025
Seifert said the missionaries were being held as a bargaining chip.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The White House’s National Security Council has issued statements supportive of Israel’s control of the flow of humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip to compel Hamas to release more hostages.
—Jeremy Diamond and Abeer Salman, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the tariff debates in March, Trump again attempted to use the annexing notion as a bargaining chip.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 25 June 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.
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 28 June 2025
Seifert said the missionaries were being held as a bargaining chip.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
The White House’s National Security Council has issued statements supportive of Israel’s control of the flow of humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip to compel Hamas to release more hostages.
—Jeremy Diamond and Abeer Salman, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Amid the tariff debates in March, Trump again attempted to use the annexing notion as a bargaining chip.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 25 June 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 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share