coopt

or co-opt

[ koh-opt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to elect into a body by the votes of the existing members.
2. to assimilate, take, or win over into a larger or established group:

   The fledgling Labor party was coopted by the Socialist party.

3. to appropriate as one's own; preempt:

   The dissidents have coopted the title of her novel for their slogan.

coopt

/ kəʊˈɒpt /

verb

1. to add (someone) to a committee, board, etc, by the agreement of the existing members
2. to appoint summarily; commandeer

Derived Forms

• coˈoptative, adjective
• coˈoption, noun

Other Words From

• co·op·ta·tion co-op·ta·tion [koh-op-, tey, -sh, uh, n], co·op·tion co-op·tion [koh-, op, -sh, uh, n], noun
• co·op·ta·tive co-op·ta·tive [koh-, op, -t, uh, -tiv], co·op·tive co-op·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coopt¹

From the Latin word cooptāre, dating back to 1645–55. See co-, opt

Word History and Origins

Origin of coopt¹

C17: from Latin cooptāre to elect, from optāre to choose

Example Sentences

Since then, Xi has conducted a thorough reshuffle of economic and financial leadership positions and set up an entity called the Central Financial Commission, seen as a move to coopt and weaken other regulators like the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

From Seattle Times

But it has come under fire from Afro Brazilian religious groups, who have been performing their own rituals in the dunes for generations, and protest what they see as elected officials abusing their power to coopt and Christianize yet another public space.

From Seattle Times

“Approving the nomination of the Highlander Folk School Library in its current form will allow an elite, white-led institution to coopt and control the historical narrative of a site most significant for its work with Black, multiracial, poor and working-class communities,” states the letter, which also accuses trust members of having glorified the Confederacy.

From Seattle Times

He tried with little success to coopt the wave of uprisings that spread across the Arab world starting in 2011, urging Islamic hard-liners to take over in the nations where leaders had fallen.

From Seattle Times

“The strategy is to coopt the whole system and have judges — with serious doubts about their impartiality — put together cases and evidence against opponents.”

From Seattle Times