A male negotiator (5)

I believe the answer is:

agent

'negotiator' is the definition.
(agent is a kind of negotiator)

'a male' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'gent' (gent is a kind of male).
'a'+'gent'='AGENT'

(Other definitions for agent that I've seen before include "One may be working" , "Actor" , "Operative" , "Spy - broker" , "Actors' manager" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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