Definition

1. Verb:
   • To take or assume for one's own use: To adopt or absorb (an idea, movement, or institution) into a larger, often different, structure, thereby often changing its original purpose or meaning.
   • To appoint summarily or commandeer: To add someone as a member of a group, committee, or body, often without a formal election, sometimes to neutralize opposition.
   • To neutralize or win over through assimilation: To assimilate, absorb, or win over a potentially opposing group or individual by bringing them into one's own group, thereby reducing their independent power.
   • To choose or elect as a fellow member: To elect or select someone as a new member of a group, society, or committee.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The political party tried to co-opt the popular slogan for its own campaign.
  • The committee voted to co-opt three external experts for their specialized knowledge.
  • The ruling regime sought to co-opt the rebel leaders by offering them government positions.
  • The board decided to co-opt her due to her extensive experience in the field.

Advanced Usage

• "to co-opt someone into something": To bring someone into a group, often for strategic reasons.

  • They attempted to co-opt the activists into the official planning process to mitigate their criticism.

• Concept of Co-optation: The process or result of co-opting. This term is often used in political and sociological contexts to describe how systems absorb challengers to maintain stability.

  • The co-optation of grassroots movements by mainstream parties can dilute their original goals.

Variants and Related Words

• Co-optation (noun): The act or process of co-opting.

  • The co-optation of independent artists by commercial galleries is a common trend.

• Co-optive (adjective): Having the quality of co-opting.

  • The strategy was more co-optive than confrontational.

Synonyms

• Appropriate: To take something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission.
• Assimilate: To absorb and integrate into a wider group or culture.
• Commandeer: To take possession of something for military or official use, often forcibly.
• Enlist: To secure the support or involvement of someone.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(Note: "co-opt" itself is not typically used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The advanced usage pattern "co-opt into" is a standard verb + preposition construction.)

Related Idioms

• "To bring into the fold": This idiom shares a similar meaning with the assimilative sense of "co-opt," implying making someone part of a group to secure their loyalty or neutralize opposition.
  • The company's strategy was to bring the innovative startup into the fold through an acquisition.

Verb

1. take or assume for one's own use
   • He co-opted the criticism and embraced it
2. appoint summarily or commandeer
   • The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups
3. neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group
   • We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance
4. choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague
   • The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation