Standard Lemma guide

co-opt

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • kōˈ-ŏptˌ
  • UK: /ˈkəʊˌɒpt/
  • US: /ˈkoʊˌɑpt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɒpt
  • rhymes with -ɑpt
  • CMU ARPABET: K OW0 AA1 P T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To elect as a fellow member of a group, such as a committee.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To commandeer, appropriate or take over.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To absorb or assimilate into an established group, movement, category, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

take or assume for one's own use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He co-opted the criticism and embraced it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take, accept

5

verb

Meaning 5

appoint summarily or commandeer

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The army tried to co-opt peasants into civil defence groups

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: appoint, name, nominate, constitute

6

verb

Meaning 6

choose or elect as a fellow member or colleague

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The church members co-opted individuals from similar backgrounds to replenish the congregation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: elect

7

verb

Meaning 7

neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: neutralize

History

Etymology

From Latin cooptō (“to choose, elect”), from co(m)- + optō (“to opt”).

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: cooptar — elect as a fellow member
  • French: coopter — elect as a fellow member
  • German: kooptieren — elect as a fellow member
  • Ido: kooptar — elect as a fellow member
  • Italian: cooptare — elect as a fellow member
  • Polish: kooptować — elect as a fellow member
  • Polish: dokooptowywać — elect as a fellow member
  • Polish: dokooptować — elect as a fellow member
  • Romanian: cooptare — elect as a fellow member
  • Russian: принима́ть в соста́в (prinimátʹ v sostáv) — elect as a fellow member
  • Spanish: cooptar — elect as a fellow member
  • Dutch: toe-eigenen — commandeer
  • Polish: rekwirować — commandeer
  • Polish: zarekwirować — commandeer
  • Polish: przejmować — commandeer
  • Polish: przejąć — commandeer
  • Spanish: arrebatar — commandeer
  • Spanish: adueñarse — commandeer
  • Spanish: cooptar — commandeer
  • German: kooptieren — absorb or assimilate
  • Polish: wchłaniać — absorb or assimilate
  • Polish: wchłonąć — absorb or assimilate
  • Russian: привлека́ть на свою́ сто́рону (privlekátʹ na svojú stóronu) — absorb or assimilate
  • Russian: поглоти́ть (poglotítʹ) — absorb or assimilate
  • Russian: вобра́ть в себя́ (vobrátʹ v sebjá) — absorb or assimilate
  • Spanish: cooptar — absorb or assimilate