Word
cooperative
Phoneticsco·op·er·a·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/koʊˈɑpɝˌeɪtɪv/
UK/kəʊˈɒpəɹətˌɪv/
Definitions
01helpful and willing
B1 · Intermediate
adj. willing to help or work with others to achieve a goal.
adj. willing to assist or work jointly with others toward a common purpose.
“The witness was very cooperative and answered all the police officer's questions.”
“The suspect remained surprisingly cooperative throughout the interrogation, providing detailed accounts that corroborated the physical evidence found at the scene.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02done together
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. involving two or more people or groups working together.
adj. characterised by joint effort or mutual collaboration between parties.
“The two schools started a cooperative project to improve the local park.”
“The successful launch was the result of a cooperative effort between international space agencies and private engineering firms.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03member-owned business
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a business or organisation owned and run by the people who work there or use its services.
n. an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet common economic or social needs through a jointly-owned enterprise.
日本語:協同組合※
“We buy our vegetables from a local farming cooperative that supports small growers.”
“The housing cooperative allows residents to have a direct say in how their building is managed and maintained.”
Usage
Often shortened to 'co-op' in everyday speech.
Teaching tip
While 'cooperative' is the formal name, students will more frequently encounter the abbreviation 'co-op' in retail or housing contexts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cooperative” in context.
Verb
01. prove cooperative
“The local authorities proved cooperative in providing the necessary permits for the festival.”
verb + adj
02. remain cooperative
“Despite the difficult negotiations, both parties managed to remain cooperative throughout the week.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. cooperative effort
“The success of the project was the result of a cooperative effort between both departments.”
adj + noun
04. cooperative venture
“The two tech giants launched a cooperative venture to develop sustainable energy solutions.”
adj + noun
05. remarkably cooperative
“The witness was remarkably cooperative during the initial police interview.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. agricultural cooperative
“The small-scale farmers joined an agricultural cooperative to get better prices for their crops.”
noun + noun
07. housing cooperative
“She lives in a housing cooperative where all residents share the maintenance costs.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“That shifts attention toward other characteristics that may have helped ants, bees and wasps repeatedly evolve highly cooperative colonies.” “As the young wolves grow, some stay with the pack for one to two years and serve in the cooperative family unit.” Etymology
From co- + operative.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cooperative
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0