Cool MateAgreement vs Bargain vs Contract vs Deal vs Settlement
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agreement
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Bargain
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Contract
FormalTop 2,000 (common)B2noun
Deal
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Settlement
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun
| Agreement | Bargain | Contract | Deal | Settlement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbɑːɡən/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbɑːrɡən/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒntrækt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːntrækt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/diːl/","/diːlz/","/delt/","/ˈdiːlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/diːl/","/diːlz/","/delt/","/ˈdiːlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsetlmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsetlmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | A decision or understanding made by two or more people. | A deal where you get something for less money. | A legal agreement between two or more parties. | an agreement or arrangement between people | An agreement or decision reached after a dispute. |
| Example | The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. | I managed to find a great bargain at the market today. | Before signing the contract, make sure to read all the terms carefully. | Whose turn is it to deal? | The two companies reached a settlement to avoid going to court. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 | B2 | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | verb | noun |
| Collocations | draft, formal, signed, negotiate, work out, conclude, in an/the agreement, under an/the agreement, agreement between, breach of agreement, the terms of the agreement, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement with, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement with | absolute, amazing, excellent, find, get, pick up, buy, price, rate, grand, make, strike, bargain between, bargain with, drive a hard bargain, somebody’s half of the bargain, somebody’s part of the bargain | long-term, permanent, guaranteed, have, bid for, bid on, expire, be worth something, work, worker, manufacturer, in a/the contract, on a contract, under contract (to), (a) breach of contract, a contract of employment, a contract of sale, take out, have out, killer, killing, contract on | deal with, make a deal, deal out, deal in, deal breaker | final, lasting, long-term, achieve, agree, reach, agreement, offer, settlement of, under a/the settlement, settlement with, in settlement of, the terms of the settlement, final, lasting, long-term, achieve, agree, reach, agreement, offer, settlement of, under a/the settlement, settlement with, in settlement of, the terms of the settlement, final, lasting, long-term, achieve, agree, reach, agreement, offer, settlement of, under a/the settlement, settlement with, in settlement of, the terms of the settlement, final, lasting, long-term, achieve, agree, reach, agreement, offer, settlement of, under a/the settlement, settlement with, in settlement of, the terms of the settlement, ancient, early, land, establish, found, grow up, patterns, site, ancient, early, land, establish, found, grow up, patterns, site |
| Antonyms | disagreement, conflict, dissonance | rip-off, scam | break, violate, disregard | refuse, deny, revoke | disagreement, conflict, dispute |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'agreement' as a verb; 'agree' is the correct form., Wrongly uses plural form 'agreements' in contexts that require a singular., Forgets to include 'on' after 'agreement' when talking about specific topics. | Confused with 'bargaining' - 'bargain' is a noun, 'bargaining' is the verb., Using 'bargain' when referring to a poor deal; it specifically implies a good deal., Misunderstanding the context - 'bargain' should refer to price negotiation. | 'Contract' confused with 'contracting' which relates to decreasing in size., Using 'contract' as a verb without an object, e.g. 'I will contract.' without specifying what., Mixing up 'contract' with 'agreement' (not all contracts are informal agreements). | Confused with 'realize' and use it incorrectly in phrases., Omitting the need for a preposition when saying what you deal with., Using 'deal' as a noun instead of a verb. | Using 'settlement' as a verb., Confusing 'settlement' with 'settler' (a person who settles)., Overusing in non-legal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Used when talking about decisions made together. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very informal settings where simpler words might suffice. | Use 'bargain' to describe negotiations over prices in markets or stores. Avoid casual conversation in formal settings; instead, use 'agreement' or 'contract.' | Use 'contract' in legal and business contexts. It may not be suitable in casual conversations. Also, be aware of its different meanings in legal versus general usage. | Use 'deal' in both formal and informal contexts. It's suitable for discussions about agreements and negotiations, but avoid using it in overly casual situations or in written academic contexts. | Used in legal contexts, often when parties resolve their issues. Not suitable for casual conversation. Prefer 'agreement' in informal discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Agreement vs Bargain vs Contract vs Deal vs Settlement
What's the difference between Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement?
Agreement: A decision or understanding made by two or more people. Bargain: A deal where you get something for less money. Contract: A legal agreement between two or more parties. Deal: an agreement or arrangement between people Settlement: An agreement or decision reached after a dispute.
Which is more advanced: Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement?
Settlement is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement the same CEFR level?
Agreement: B1, Bargain: B2, Contract: B2, Deal: A2, Settlement: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement?
Agreement: noun, Bargain: noun, Contract: noun, Deal: verb, Settlement: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Agreement: The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. Bargain: I managed to find a great bargain at the market today. Contract: Before signing the contract, make sure to read all the terms carefully. Deal: Whose turn is it to deal? Settlement: The two companies reached a settlement to avoid going to court.
Can I use Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement interchangeably?
Not always. Agreement, Bargain, Contract, Deal, and Settlement are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.