cooperative

1 of 2

adjective

co·​op·​er·​a·​tive kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv How to pronounce cooperative (audio)
-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-
1
a
: marked by cooperation
cooperative efforts
b
: marked by a willingness and ability to work with others
cooperative neighbors
2
: of, relating to, or organized as a cooperative
a cooperative store
3
: relating to or comprising a program of combined liberal arts and technical studies at different schools
cooperatively adverb
cooperativeness noun

cooperative

2 of 2

noun

: an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services

Examples of cooperative in a Sentence

Adjective The witness was very cooperative. a cooperative space project undertaken by Russia and the U.S.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Their kids’ cooperative attitude served everyone well. Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024 Graziano, who was elected sheriff in November 2020, canceled the county’s cooperative agreement with ICE on Jan. 5, 2021, after she was sworn into office. Bethany Blankley | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
Rural electric cooperatives provide electricity to 42 million people across 56% of the nation’s landmass. Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Charming and cooperative, Libras are mediators at heart, but their desire to keep the peace can also lead to indecision and people-pleasing tendencies. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cooperative 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see cooperate

Noun

see cooperate

First Known Use

Adjective

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cooperative was in 1603

Dictionary Entries Near cooperative

Cite this Entry

“Cooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooperative. Accessed 12 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cooperative

1 of 2 adjective
co·​op·​er·​a·​tive kō-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv How to pronounce cooperative (audio)
-ˈäp-ə-ˌrāt-
1
: willing to cooperate
cooperative neighbors
2
: of, relating to, or organized as a cooperative
a cooperative store
cooperative apartments
cooperatively adverb
cooperativeness noun

cooperative

2 of 2 noun
: an association owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services

Legal Definition

cooperative

1 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or organized as a cooperative

cooperative

2 of 2 noun
co·​op·​er·​a·​tive
: an enterprise or organization (as for banking and credit services or the ownership of residential property) that is owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services

called also co-op

compare condominium sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on cooperative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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