cooption
cooption Lexical Profile
cooption Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The act of adopting, assimilating, or appropriating an idea, movement, or group for one's own use or to neutralize opposition.
"Critics argued that the corporation's marketing campaign represented a cynical cooption of grassroots environmental activism."
The election or appointment of a new member to a committee or governing body by the existing members.
"The board filled the sudden vacancy through the cooption of an experienced financial advisor."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often spelled with a hyphen as "co-option" or in the longer variant form "co-optation," particularly in academic and sociological contexts.
• Rhymes for cooption
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in English from the verb "co-opt," which derives from the Latin "cooptare" (to elect to fill a vacancy), from "co-" (together) and "optare" (to choose or wish).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.