➕ To add to group 🤝 To win over 💡 To take for self

to co-opt

7.0

Add someone to a group without following the normal process

verb
/koʊˈɑpt/

: cooptar

She was co-opted onto the advisory committee due to her expertise.

Examples

The board decided to co-opt a new member with experience in finance.
The council may co-opt additional members when necessary.
The committee decided to co-opt a new member.
Can we co-opt someone from another department?
She was co-opted onto the advisory committee to leverage her expertise in environmental issues.
The organization chose to co-opt several community leaders to ensure diverse perspectives on the project.
The school board may co-opt parents to assist in the planning of upcoming events.

Synonyms

to admit

vsto co-opt

238 2.8

Allow someone to join a group or organization

often adds people without using the usual membership process

to pack

vsto co-opt

18 7.2

To fill a group or committee with people who support you

often brings people in by bypassing usual rules rather than to influence decisions

Antonyms

to exclude

338 3.0

To keep someone or something out so they are not part of something

How Official

to elect

∞ 3.3

to appoint

Formal

580 3.2

to co-opt

7.0

to add

∞ 1.0

to invite

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

co-opt infinitive

co-opted past

co-opted past participle

co-opting present participle

co-opts third person singular

Morphology

co-opt = opt (opaque) = co + opt

The prefix 'co-' suggests a joint action, but the specific meaning of 'appointing or adding someone to a group' is not directly derivable from 'opt'.

Etymology

Co-opt comes from the parts co- ('with') and opt ('choose'), the same root as in option, so it originally meant to 'choose someone into a group' and still often means to add or appoint someone to a committee.