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
Derived 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.
The French and German defence ministries are set to draw up a plan for defence cooperation "focused on a few realistic and relevant projects" at a forthcoming meeting, the official added.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
But, he adds, expanding military cooperation between Russia and North Korea could spark a stronger trilateral military response from the US, Japan and South Korea, which would worry Beijing.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
She has said cooperation with Washington will continue while warning that Mexico won’t tolerate interference in its domestic politics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
"With the cooperation of hunters, police and firefighters, I believe we took all possible measures available to us" to catch it, Baba said.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
It is true that there has often been close cooperation between the ANC and the Communist Party.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
