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
Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 22 July 2025
This marks the third cooperative engagement between Chinese and Vietnamese forces since April, when their naval forces and coast guards conducted two separate joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf—also known as the Gulf of Tonkin—off the coasts of Vietnam and China.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Ocasio-Cortez did vote against the defense bill as a whole, which includes $122.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative development programs, according to the House Appropriations Committee.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 22 July 2025
This marks the third cooperative engagement between Chinese and Vietnamese forces since April, when their naval forces and coast guards conducted two separate joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf—also known as the Gulf of Tonkin—off the coasts of Vietnam and China.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 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 29 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share