noun
Common
dealing
DEE-lihng
Dealing (noun) means a business transaction or piece of trade. Example: “Their dealing in rare coins made them a small fortune.”
noun
1
A business transaction or piece of trade.
"Their dealing in rare coins made them a small fortune."
"The company's latest dealing with a foreign supplier saved it money."
"Each dealing was recorded carefully in the shop's ledger."
2
The way someone behaves or interacts with others.
"His fair dealing earned him a good reputation in the industry."
"Honest dealing with customers is the key to a lasting business."
"Her dealings with the staff were always kind and respectful."
How to use dealing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA business transaction, or a way of treating and interacting with people.
Common pairings
fair dealing
insider dealing
honest dealing
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dealing.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- dealings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Their _____ in rare coins made them a small fortune.
Etymology
From Old English daeling, formed from deal plus -ing.
Related words
Rhymes for dealing
healing
sealing
whaling
dialing
scaling
stealing
exhaling
inhaling
pedaling
annealing
appealing
revealing
See all rhymes for dealing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “dealing” mean?
The word “dealing” means a business transaction or piece of trade. In plain terms, a business transaction, or a way of treating and interacting with people.
How do you pronounce “dealing”?
“Dealing” is pronounced DEE-lihng (/ˈdiːlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “dealing” in a sentence?
Here is “dealing” used in a sentence: “Their dealing in rare coins made them a small fortune.”
What part of speech is “dealing”?
“Dealing” is a noun.
Where does the word “dealing” come from?
The word “dealing” comes from Old English. From Old English daeling, formed from deal plus -ing.
Is “dealing” a common word?
“Dealing” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “dealing” have?
“Dealing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a business transaction or piece of trade.
What is the difference between a dealing and a transaction?
The two are close. A transaction is usually a single, defined exchange — one purchase or payment. A dealing, often used in the plural "dealings," tends to cover the broader business or interactions between parties over time. So a transaction is one event, while dealings suggest an ongoing pattern of trade or contact.
What does 'dealings' mean?
"Dealings" is the common plural, meaning the overall business, trade, or relations someone has with another party — as in "honest dealings" or "he had no dealings with them." It covers the whole course of transactions and contact between people or organisations, and often carries a hint about whether that conduct is fair or shady.
What is an example of a dealing?
Buying stock from a supplier, selling shares, or striking a trade agreement are all dealings — individual pieces of business or trade. In practice the word is most often used in the plural to describe someone's overall commercial conduct, as in "the company's dealings with overseas partners."
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include dealing:
