co-opt
UK[kəʊˈɒpt]US[koʊˈɑːpt]
v
To add someone to a group, committee, etc., often by the agreement of the existing members.
v
To adopt or take (an idea, policy, or movement) and use it for one's own purposes, often changing its original intent.
Morpheme Breakdown
co
opt
co
together
opt
choose
Etymology
The word "co-opt" is a direct borrowing from Latin cooptāre, which is a compound of com- ("together") and optāre ("to choose"). Its original, literal sense was "to choose or elect someone into a body or group by the mutual vote of its existing members." This core meaning of selection by collective agreement remains central to its first definition. Over time, the term's application broadened metaphorically beyond people to include abstract entities like ideas or strategies. In its second, more modern usage, "to co-opt" implies a strategic absorption where the adopting entity assimilates and often neutralizes or redirects the original purpose of what it has chosen to incorporate, reflecting a nuanced shift from simple joint selection to tactical appropriation.
Analysis
Structure: co (together) + opt (choose)
co: from Latin com- meaning "together, with". A prefix indicating joint action or association.
opt: from Latin optāre meaning "to choose, to wish for". A verb root indicating selection or desire.
Examples
The board decided to co-opt three external experts to provide fresh perspectives.
The mainstream political party co-opted the popular slogans of the protest movement.
To avoid opposition, the company co-opted the leaders of the union into its management committee.