cooperation
Americannoun
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an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.
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more or less active assistance from a person, organization, etc..
We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.
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willingness to cooperate.
to indicate cooperation.
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Economics. the combination of persons for purposes of production, purchase, or distribution for their joint benefit.
producers' cooperation; consumers' cooperation.
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Sociology. activity shared for mutual benefit.
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Ecology. mutually beneficial interaction among organisms living in a limited area.
noun
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joint operation or action
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assistance or willingness to assist
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economics the combination of consumers, workers, farmers, etc, in activities usually embracing production, distribution, or trade
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ecology beneficial but inessential interaction between two species in a community
Other Word Forms
- co-operationist noun
- cooperationist noun
Etymology
Origin of cooperation
First recorded in 1620–30; from Middle French, from Late Latin cooperātiōn-, stem of cooperātiō; equivalent to cooperate + -ion
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.
Following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo Wednesday, Macron spoke of their cooperation in the face of the "current energy crisis".
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
The prime minister told a news conference he would use a summit with the EU later this year to seek more cooperation with the bloc on the economy and security.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
He has radically shifted Bolivia’s foreign policy, seeking greater economic and security cooperation with US President Donald Trump's administration.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Tripadvisor added two new directors to its board as part of a cooperation agreement with activist investor Starboard Value.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Social cooperation is our key for survival and reproduction.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
