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.
China’s Ministry of Public Security on Friday called the case a “new achievement” in law-enforcement cooperation between the U.S. and China.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Microsoft also said it would help train one million engineers and developers by 2030 in cooperation with Japanese companies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 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
Justiano said that cooperation went beyond information sharing.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
Because it was written by one of her friends, Leah Stock Helmick, the piece had Elizebeth’s full cooperation.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
