Zero-sum definition

Zero-sum, or zero-sum game, is a term used to identify a scenario in which it is generally recognized by participants that regardless of the effort expended, whatever can be gained will likely be offset by a comparable loss.

Zero-sum also identifies when two competitors may both gain in a competition, but both will gain the same amount, thus not improving their individual positions relative to the other.

The term is invoked early in a negotiation, for example, to identify a useless effort.