co-opt

tr.v., -opt·ed, -opt·ing, -opts.

1. To elect as a fellow member of a group.
2. To appoint summarily.
3. To take or assume for one's own use; appropriate: co-opted the criticism by embracing it.
4. To neutralize or win over (an independent minority, for example) through assimilation into an established group or culture: co-opt rebels by giving them positions of authority.

[Latin cooptāre : co-, co- + optāre, to choose.]

co-optation co'-op·ta'tion n.
co-optative co-op'ta·tive (-tə-tĭv) adj.
co-option co-op'tion (-ŏp'shən) n.
co-optive co-op'tive adj.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 4 meanings:

Meaning #1: choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague

Meaning #2: neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group

Meaning #3: appoint summarily or commandeer

Meaning #4: take or assume for one's own use

---

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - selvsupplere, indvælge

Nederlands (Dutch)
coöpteren, inlijven

Français (French)
v. tr. - coopter, rallier

Deutsch (German)
v. - kooptieren, hinzuwählen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - εισδέχομαι, προσδέχομαι (νέο μέλος), (καθομ.) προσεταιρίζομαι ή ιδιοποιούμαι πολιτικώς (κν. καπελώνω)

Italiano (Italian)
cooptare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - cooptar

Русский (Russian)
кооптировать, сплачивать

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - cooptar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - välja in, absorbera, utnämna, ta över (am.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
由现会员选举, 指派

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 由現會員選舉, 指派

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 신회원으로 선출하다, 조직에 흡수하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 接収する, 新委員に選ぶ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) انتخب زميلا لعضويه لجنه أو غيرها, طلب مساعدة غيره‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮סיפח, צירף (חבר לוועדה)‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.