non-cooperative
UK[ˌnɒn kəʊˈɒpərətɪv]US[ˌnɑːn koʊˈɑːpərətɪv]
adj
Not involving or characterized by working together towards a common goal.
adj
(Specifically in game theory) Denoting a situation where participants make decisions independently, without collaboration or binding agreements.
Morpheme Breakdown
non
cooperative
non
not
cooperative
working together
Etymology
The word is a modern English formation built upon the established adjective 'cooperative'. The prefix 'non-', derived from Latin 'non' meaning 'not', is a highly productive negating element in English. It is attached directly to 'cooperative', which itself originates from the Late Latin 'cooperativus', from the verb 'cooperari' (to work together). The term 'non-cooperative' gained specific technical prominence in the mid-20th century with the development of game theory, where it precisely describes games or scenarios defined by the absence of enforceable agreements between players, thus extending the simple literal negation into a formal conceptual category.
Analysis
Structure: non (not) + cooperative (working together)
non (Latin origin, a negative prefix meaning 'not'); cooperative (from Latin 'co-' meaning 'together' + 'operari' meaning 'to work', forming an adjective meaning 'involving joint action').
Examples
The negotiations broke down due to the non-cooperative attitude of one party.
In non-cooperative game theory, each player acts in their own self-interest.
The patient was described as non-cooperative during the medical examination.