coopt

or co-opt

[ koh-opt ]
See synonyms for coopt on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. to appropriate as one's own; preempt: The dissidents have coopted the title of her novel for their slogan.

Origin of coopt

1
From the Latin word cooptāre, dating back to 1645–55. See co-, opt

Other words from coopt

  • co·op·ta·tion, co-op·ta·tion [koh-op-tey-shuhn], /koʊˌɒpˈteɪ ʃən/, co·op·tion, co-op·tion [koh-op-shuhn], /koʊˈɒp ʃən/, noun
  • co·op·ta·tive, co-op·ta·tive [koh-op-tuh-tiv], /koʊˈɒp tə tɪv/, co·op·tive, co-op·tive, adjective

Words that may be confused with coopt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use coopt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for coopt

coopt

co-opt

/ (kəʊˈɒpt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to add (someone) to a committee, board, etc, by the agreement of the existing members

  2. to appoint summarily; commandeer

Origin of coopt

1
C17: from Latin cooptāre to elect, from optāre to choose

Derived forms of coopt

  • cooption, co-option, cooptation or co-optation, noun
  • cooptative or co-optative, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012