cooperation
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.
-
more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc..
We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.
-
willingness to cooperate.
to indicate cooperation.
-
Economics. the combination of persons for purposes of production, purchase, or distribution for their joint benefit.
producers' cooperation; consumers' cooperation.
-
Sociology. activity shared for mutual benefit.
-
Ecology. mutually beneficial interaction among organisms living in a limited area.
noun
-
joint operation or action
-
assistance or willingness to assist
-
economics the combination of consumers, workers, farmers, etc, in activities usually embracing production, distribution, or trade
-
ecology beneficial but inessential interaction between two species in a community
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cooperation
First recorded in 1620–30; from Middle French, from Late Latin cooperātiōn-, stem of cooperātiō; equivalent to cooperate + -ion
Explanation
Working together is cooperation. Thanks to the cooperation of the parents, teachers, and students, the end of year school dance rocked the house without rocking the boat. If you break apart cooperation you see co which means together and operation which is a project or job. When you practice cooperation you are working together on a job or project. Cooperation can sometimes be hard to come by, which is why when someone does a lot of it, it's nice to say thank you.
Vocabulary lists containing cooperation
Ecology - Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lyndon B. Johnson on "The Great Society" (1964)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That June 2000 agreement -- a treaty that sets a framework for cooperation -- includes a clause requiring respect for human rights.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
To avoid any quarrels, I suggest timing any stock sale, with the beneficiaries’ cooperation, so that no one inadvertently misses out on a dividend payment.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
And pretrial and posttrial diversion programs — where someone undergoes treatment in lieu of incarceration — would also need the cooperation of the court system, which the mayor does not control.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
Xi said cooperation between Russia and China had "continuously deepened and solidified", according to Chinese state media.
From Barron's • May 19, 2026
The rock-passing accompaniment reflects the idea of a tight-knit community and cooperation, for if even one child fails to pass their rock on the beat to the next child, the entire song cannot continue.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
