cooperation

Or co-op·er·a·tion

[koh-op-uh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.

2. more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc..

   We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.

3. willingness to cooperate.

   to indicate cooperation.

4. Economics.,  the combination of persons for purposes of production, purchase, or distribution for their joint benefit.

   producers' cooperation; consumers' cooperation.

5. Sociology.,  activity shared for mutual benefit.

6. Ecology.,  mutually beneficial interaction among organisms living in a limited area.

cooperation

/ kəʊˌɒpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. joint operation or action

2. assistance or willingness to assist

3. economics the combination of consumers, workers, farmers, etc, in activities usually embracing production, distribution, or trade

4. ecology beneficial but inessential interaction between two species in a community

Other Word Forms

• cooperationist noun
• co-operationist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cooperation¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Middle French, from Late Latin cooperātiōn-, stem of cooperātiō; equivalent to cooperate + -ion

Example Sentences

For years, international cooperation has been limited because scientists lacked clear information about how migratory birds connect different habitats and communities throughout the seasons.

Read more on Science Daily

It also called for greater cooperation between banks and social media companies where fraud can take place.

Read more on BBC

The flight represented an unusual example of cooperation between Iran and the US.

Read more on BBC

"All of these are hugely difficult pressure points for human society. And you can't deal with them unless there is international collaboration and cooperation," he says.

Read more on BBC

The major non-NATO ally designation will deepen defense cooperation and was celebrated as a momentous victory in Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled press.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aid 
• assistance 
• collaboration 
• participation 
• partnership 
• service 
• unity