Dealings

Dealings refer to acts of buying, selling, negotiating, or otherwise conducting transactions or interactions between parties. The term covers a broad range of activities in commerce, finance, and daily life, from formal contract negotiations to everyday exchanges.

In business, dealings include procurement, sales, partnerships, loans, investments, and other financial arrangements. They are typically documented through contracts, invoices, ledgers, and regulatory filings to provide accountability, traceability, and compliance.

In legal and ethical contexts, dealings imply certain duties and expectations, such as disclosure, fair dealing, and avoidance of conflicts of interest. The concept often underpins professional standards for transparency and fiduciary responsibility within organizations.

Illicit dealings refer to illegal or prohibited transactions, such as drug dealing or arms dealing. These activities are criminalized in many jurisdictions, with penalties varying by law and often accompanied by enforcement efforts to disrupt illegal networks.

Colloquial usage, “to have dealings with someone,” simply means to interact or conduct business with that person, while “dealings” in a professional sense may denote the overall pattern of a party’s transactions and relationships.

See also: negotiation, contract, commerce, due diligence.