cooperative

adjective

co·op·er·a·tive | \ kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv,

-ˈä-pə-ˌrā-\

Definition of cooperative

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

cooperative

noun

Definition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from cooperative Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about cooperative

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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: Adjective

One such stumbling block is the question of Russia, and how India and the U.S. relate to a power that the Indians perceive as friendly and cooperative, but which the Americans see in a different light. — Vinay Kaura, Time, "Strategic Ties Between India and the U.S. Are Growing. But Russia Is a Stumbling Block," 11 June 2018 The owner was cooperative, putting a leash on the dog’s collar and leading him over to the ACS truck. — Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, "Thousands of dog bites in S.A. include three-dozen cases against dangerous dogs," 26 May 2018 Some are cooperative yet guarded, while others lash out or throw tantrums. — Christy Tennant Krispin, Vox, "What Mark Wahlberg’s new movie Instant Family gets right and wrong about foster care," 29 Nov. 2018 Playing in the dark adds a fun, unique, immersive element to this semi-cooperative game. — Armin Brott And Samantha Feuss, The Seattle Times, "5 new twists on classic board games," 24 Aug. 2018 Photo: Alexandra Wexler/The Wall Street Journal (2) Experts say national parks across the continent will struggle to expand their tourism revenue without a cooperative and supportive government. — Alexandra Wexler, WSJ, "Roughing It: Tourists Are Boldly Going Into African Trouble Spots," 19 Oct. 2018 The weather has been cooperative and the rescue team planned additional updates later Sunday. — Asia Fields, The Seattle Times, "Search continues for missing Seattle hiker; dogs, helicopters and searchers have failed to locate woman," 5 Aug. 2018 However, Kuenstle said a cooperative solution was not working. — Jane Stueckemann, Houston Chronicle, "73 animals rescued from Cypress property remain with SPCA," 20 June 2018 But police said the driver, who did not match the description given by the caller, was cooperative and admitted to having driven a bit recklessly along Grand Avenue. — Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Police swarm area after pedestrian claims pickup driver in downtown Waukesha drew gun on him," 2 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And the experts' investigation of more than 200 joint ventures and/or cooperatives turned up a number that violated U.N. sanctions resolutions by maintaining links with companies and entities under sanctions. — Fox News, "UN experts: NKorea hasn't stopped nuke and missile programs," 4 Aug. 2018 Just ask Rebecca van Bergen, the founder of Nest—a non-profit that facilitates connections between high fashion brands and artisan cooperatives in over 50 countries. — Amy Louise Bailey, Harper's BAZAAR, "Mara Hoffman Proves Style and Sustainability Can Coexist," 4 May 2017 For decades, the garnacha, as grenache is known in Spanish, went to the local cooperative, which made bulk wines that ended up in anonymous blends. — New York Times, "Reviving Ancient Spanish Vineyards, Building New Traditions," 24 May 2018 The general public — including many judges — often confuse condominiums with cooperatives. — Benny L. Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Can board block delinquent owners from using pool?," 26 July 2017 The cooperative is getting advice from Samsung Electronics Co. , the world’s biggest smartphone maker, to help members develop watches with smart functions. — Ese Erheriene, WSJ, "Old-School Watchmakers Get Smart to Counter Apple," 17 Nov. 2018 Stan Ryan, hired as the cooperative’s chief executive in early 2016 on the strength of nearly 25 years in the international agribusiness field with Cargill, is undeterred amid the trade uncertainty. — Benjamin Romano, The Seattle Times, "Darigold aims to sell more than half of its dairy output abroad despite trade spat," 20 Aug. 2018 Fourteen Kentucky farmers recently tried to join the cooperative, but they were denied because the group saw them as competition, the farmers told NBC News. — NBC News, "Best advice to U.S. dairy farmers? 'Sell out as fast as you can'," 30 June 2018 The Canadian tariffs are particularly troubling for Ocean Spray, the largest player in the market controlling about 65% of global cranberry supplies under its cooperative of 700 cranberry farmers in the U.S., Canada and Chile. — Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, "U.S. Cranberry Industry Feels the Bite of Retaliatory Tariffs," 5 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cooperative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near cooperative

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Last Updated

26 Dec 2018

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Time Traveler for cooperative

The first known use of cooperative was in 1603

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More Definitions for cooperative

cooperative

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of cooperative

(Entry 1 of 2)

: willing to be helpful by doing what someone wants or asks for

: involving two or more people or groups working together to do something

: relating to a business or organization that is owned and operated by the people who work there or the people who use its services

cooperative

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)

: a business or organization that is owned and operated by the people who work there or the people who use its services

See the full definition for cooperative in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cooperative

adjective

co·op·er·a·tive | \ kō-ˈä-pə-rə-tiv

Kids Definition of cooperative

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : willing to work with others

2 : relating to an organization owned by and operated by the people who work there or use its services a cooperative store

cooperative

noun

Kids Definition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)

: an organization owned and operated by the people who work there or use its services

cooperative

adjective

Legal Definition of cooperative

(Entry 1 of 2)

: of, relating to, or organized as a cooperative

cooperative

noun

co·op·er·a·tive

Legal Definition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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