English · Word Candidate

cooperative

/kuˈɑp.ɹətɪv/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cooperatives

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Ready to work with another person or in a team; ready to cooperate.

Adjective

Examples

The patient was rarely cooperative, and tended to refuse treatment.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Involving cooperation between individuals or parties.

Adjective

Examples

a cooperative game

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A type of company that is owned partially or wholly by its employees, customers or tenants.

Noun

Examples

The head of an agricultural producers’ cooperative in Chien-shih county of Hupei Province lectured his peasant wife: “To gain emancipation, women must do production work just like men.”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cooperative” mean?

Ready to work with another person or in a team; ready to cooperate.

Is “cooperative” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.