willing to work or act with others; helpful and compliant
The students were very cooperative during the fire drill.
If you stay cooperative, the project will finish sooner.
✦ From the prefix co- “together” + operative; recorded in English since the mid-19th century.
involving people or groups working together toward a shared goal
Cleaning the park was a cooperative effort by the whole neighborhood.
The two companies formed a cooperative partnership to develop the new app.
✦ From co- meaning “together” and operative meaning “working,” emphasizing joint action.
a business or organization owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits
The farmers started a cooperative to sell their produce directly to stores.
Joining the housing cooperative allowed Maria to buy an affordable apartment.
✦ Noun sense developed from the adjective in the late 19th century, when groups formed member-owned businesses to improve bargaining power.
