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co·op·er·a·tive | \ kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 
, -ˈä-pə-ˌrā- \
, -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
nounDefinition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)
: an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services
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Synonyms & Antonyms for cooperative
Synonyms: Adjective
- collaborative,
- collective,
- combined,
- common,
- communal,
- concerted,
- conjoint,
- conjunct,
- joint,
- multiple,
- mutual,
- pooled,
- public,
- shared,
- united
Antonyms: Adjective
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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 No information about suspects was available, but police said the victim and a witness were not being cooperative.
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Loyd Brumfield, Dallas News, "Man injured in Fort Worth shooting, police say," 23 Jan. 2020 Some of Hancock’s City Council allies didn’t fare as well, leaving him with a less cooperative council for his final term.
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Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, "Top 10 Colorado politics stories of 2019: From our would-be presidents to bomb cyclones," 30 Dec. 2019 As the investigation unfolded and the contamination was traced back to Guide, James said the company was less than cooperative.
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Sarah Bowman, IndyStar, "113 tons of dead fish: Indiana's worst environmental disaster, 20 years later," 19 Dec. 2019 In North Dakota, for example, a group of eight local employers from the energy sector formed a cooperative to offer lower-cost childcare to their employees.
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Anna Claire Vollers | Avollers@al.com, al, "Employers look to affordable childcare to recruit new workers," 7 Dec. 2019 The Saudi government has reportedly been cooperative and even reportedly helped U.S. investigators link particular social media accounts to individuals.
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TheWeek, "U.S. investigation reportedly to result in expulsion of some Saudi military students," 12 Jan. 2020 Still, the necessary training can sometimes occur on the job, said Phyllis H. Weisberg, a partner at Armstrong Teasdale and a leader of the firm’s cooperative and condominium law practice area.
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Jonathan Vatner, New York Times, "So You Want to Join Your Co-op Board?," 3 Jan. 2020 The curriculum introduces the fundamentals of dance and teaches discipline, focus, self-expression, confidence and cooperative learning.
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Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "'Nutcracker’ stars: Surviving a car crash, finding a new passion," 10 Dec. 2019 Mom was taking Trazodone and Seroquel and becoming increasingly cooperative and cheerful with the staff.
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Winston Ross, Longreads, "What Shattered My Mother’s Mind," 8 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Meetings are also planned with cooperatives and individual farmers.
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Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, "Shirkey and other Michigan lawmakers fly to Cuba, a potentially lucrative market for Michigan," 4 Feb. 2020 The Institute for Local Self-Reliance says more than 110 electric cooperatives are working on providing broadband internet to rural areas.
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Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, "Tired of waiting for broadband, rural communities are tapping grants, partnerships to get modern internet," 30 Dec. 2019 The organization invites local farmers, small farm cooperatives and local producers to participate in the markets.
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Evan Casey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Faith based winter markets helps farmers get through the the slow season," 17 Dec. 2019 His plan would ban tobacco companies from participating in the industry, for example, and would offer resources for people to start cooperatives and nonprofits.
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Sean Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Bernie Sanders offers marijuana legalization plan," 30 Oct. 2019 The Capital Press reported last month that 140 farmers owned the NORPAC cooperative and had $310 million in annual sales.
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Mike Rogoway, oregonlive, "NORPAC’s buyer plans to close Stayton plant, lay off 485," 5 Sep. 2019 But the proposal has drawn opposition from Attorney General Ashley Moody, state House and Senate leaders, powerful business groups and utilities, including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives.
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Jim Saunders, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida justices question wording of utility amendment’s summary," 28 Aug. 2019 Visit a women’s weaving cooperative and a community-run restaurant to experience Andean culture.
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National Geographic, "Peru Family Journey: Machu Picchu to the Amazon," 12 June 2019 Tri-State, which serves 43 member cooperatives, contends the Colorado PUC doesn’t have jurisdiction in the matters.
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Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, "Tri-State tells Colorado regulators they lack jurisdiction in contract dispute with electric co-ops," 26 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese 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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More Definitions for cooperative
cooperative
adjectiveEnglish 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
nounEnglish 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
adjectiveco·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
nounKids Definition of cooperative (Entry 2 of 2)
: an organization owned and operated by the people who work there or use its services
cooperative
adjectiveLegal Definition of cooperative
(Entry 1 of 2)
: of, relating to, or organized as a cooperative
cooperative
nounco·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 1Keep scrolling for more
Comments on cooperative
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Time Traveler for cooperative
The first known use of cooperative was in 1603
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