cooperative
koo-AHP-ruh-tihv
Cooperative (adjective) means willing to work with others; helpful. Example: “My neighbour was very cooperative when we asked to move the fence.”
adjective
1
Willing to work with others; helpful.
"My neighbour was very cooperative when we asked to move the fence."
"The toddler was not feeling cooperative at bedtime."
"The staff were very cooperative when we asked for changes."
2
Involving joint effort between individuals or groups.
"The two schools ran a cooperative project to clean the local river."
"Finishing the mural required a cooperative effort from the whole class."
"They launched a cooperative venture to share research costs."
noun
1
A business or organization owned and run jointly by its members, such as employees or customers.
"She buys her vegetables from a local cooperative run by its members."
"The bakery is a cooperative, so the workers share the profits."
"The farmers formed a cooperative to sell their produce together."
How to use cooperative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither willing to help and work with others, or (as a noun) a business jointly owned by its members.
Common pairings
a cooperative effort
housing cooperative
farmers' cooperative
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like cooperative.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- cooperatives
- Comparative
- more cooperative
- Superlative
- most cooperative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My neighbour was very _____ when we asked to move the fence.
Etymology
Formed from co- ("together") plus operative, following the same pattern as cooperate.
Synonyms
View more →
collaborative
helpful
obliging
collective
cooperative society
united
conjunctive
conjunct
concerted
accommodative
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cooperative
See all rhymes for cooperative →Frequently asked questions
What does “cooperative” mean?
The word “cooperative” means willing to work with others; helpful. In plain terms, either willing to help and work with others, or (as a noun) a business jointly owned by its members.
How do you pronounce “cooperative”?
“Cooperative” is pronounced koo-AHP-ruh-tihv (/kuˈɑp.ɹətɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “cooperative” in a sentence?
Here is “cooperative” used in a sentence: “The staff were very cooperative when we asked for changes.”
What is the opposite of “cooperative”?
The opposite of “cooperative” — its antonyms — are adversarial and competitive.
What part of speech is “cooperative”?
Depending on how it is used, “cooperative” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “cooperative” a common word?
“Cooperative” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “cooperative” have?
“Cooperative” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: willing to work with others; helpful.
What is the difference between cooperative and collaborative?
Cooperative describes being willing to work with others or involving joint effort, and is used broadly for attitudes and arrangements, while collaborative more specifically emphasizes people actively working together to create something, such as a collaborative project. A cooperative person is helpful and agreeable; a collaborative process is one built on joint contribution.
What is a cooperative in a business sense?
A cooperative is a business or organization owned and jointly run by its members, such as employees, farmers, or customers, who share in decision-making and often in profits. Examples include agricultural cooperatives and housing cooperatives.
How is cooperative used to describe a person's behavior?
When describing a person, cooperative means willing to work with others and helpful rather than obstructive, such as a cooperative witness who answers questions honestly and fully.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include cooperative:
