co-option

7.2

The selection of a new member by existing members without an open election, for example in a committee or board

noun
/koʊˈɑːpʃən/

: cooptación

Several committee vacancies were filled through co-option rather than by open election.

Examples

The club used co-option to fill the vacant seat on its board.
Some organizations allow for co-option when an urgent replacement is required.
The committee's co-option process was highly criticized.
Many members opposed the co-option of new leaders.
Several committee vacancies were filled through co-option rather than by open election.
Some organizations allow for co-option when an urgent replacement is required.
The club used co-option to fill the vacant seat on its board.

Synonyms

naming

vsco-option

Formal

4 3.5

Choosing someone for a job or official position, not by election

is decided specifically by current members rather than another appointing body

co-optation

vsco-option

Formal

9.1

Adding someone to a group by decision of its current members

is the same process but presented as a variant form

Antonyms

election

∞ 1.0

A formal process where people vote to choose someone for public office

How Official

election

∞ 1.0

appointment

Formal

183 2.5

co-option

7.2

invitation

526 1.0

Surface Forms

co-option singular

co-options plural

Morphology

co-option = co-opt (semi-transparent) = co + opt + ion

The verb 'co-opt' is analyzable as 'co-' + 'opt', but the noun refers to a specific political/organizational process and the pragmatic sense ('to neutralize or absorb') may not be obvious to learners.

Etymology

Co-option comes from the parts co- meaning 'together' and option meaning 'choice'. So co-option is a 'choice made by the group', which explains why it means filling a vacancy by the decision of the current members rather than by an open election.