co·op·er·a·tive
kō-ˈä-p(ə-)rə-tiv 
-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
: 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
Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 July 2025
Finally, a more durable, cooperative global order would ground its legitimacy not in supposedly neutral technocratic governance but in expressly political exchanges.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
Dana Afana, Freep.com, 4 July 2025
Despite prejudice — state law prohibited him from owning property because of his ancestry — Taniguchi started a farmers' cooperative that raised, sold and shipped vegetables throughout California.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cooperative
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Adjective
The woman was cooperative with officers, gave a statement and was not taken into custody after she was seen for a medical evaluation at a hospital, Hayward police said in a news release.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 July 2025
Finally, a more durable, cooperative global order would ground its legitimacy not in supposedly neutral technocratic governance but in expressly political exchanges.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
Noun
Changes in the plans to reconnect steam service mainly include removing multiple vent stacks near the Nicolet and Joliet cooperatives in the Mies district vicinities to, instead, use traditional cast iron manhole covers.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 4 July 2025
Despite prejudice — state law prohibited him from owning property because of his ancestry — Taniguchi started a farmers' cooperative that raised, sold and shipped vegetables throughout California.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for cooperative
Cite this Entry
“Cooperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cooperative. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cooperative
1 of 2 adjective
co·op·er·a·tive
kō-ˈäp-(ə-)rət-iv
-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
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