Joint operator sick with cold (9)
I believe the answer is:
corporate
'joint' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'operator sick with cold' is the wordplay.
'sick with' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps).
'operator' anagrammed with 'c' can make 'CORPORATE'.
(Other definitions for corporate that I've seen before include "Relating to a large group; united" , "belonging to a large company" , "Relating to a large group or company" , "Joint" , "Poor crate could be legally united into a body" .)