co-opt
/ˌkəʊ ˈɒpt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌkəʊ ˈɑːpt/ (ame, ipa) · /kō-ˈäpt/ (ame, mw)
co-opt — verb
- co-optpresent simple I / you / we / they
- co-optshe / she / it
- co-optedpast simple
- co-opting-ing form
1. When an elected group such as a board or committee adds a new member by a vote o
When an elected group such as a board or committee adds a new member by a vote of the existing members rather than by a fresh public election.
The school board co-opted Noor onto the finance subcommittee last Thursday.
pattern: co-opt + person + onto + subcommittee
Members voted to co-opt Vinícius as a temporary trustee until the spring election.
passive-adjacent: voted to co-opt + person + as + role
Three retired teachers were co-opted onto the parents' council to fill the empty seats.
After two resignations, the committee co-opted Beatrix to balance the regional representation.
The village hall trustees co-opted a local lawyer for her expertise in charity law.
- elect
implies a wider public or membership vote rather than a vote of sitting members
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + onto/into + group
用法筆記
Frequently passive ('was co-opted onto'). Subject is typically a committee, board, council, or other elected body; the new member is added without a fresh public ballot.
常見錯誤
2. To pull a person, group, or movement inside a larger cause so that their voice s
To pull a person, group, or movement inside a larger cause so that their voice serves that cause — usually quietly, and sometimes against their own preference. Often used of political parties that absorb activists or critics to silence them.
The ruling party tried to co-opt Samir's grassroots campaign by offering him a cabinet seat.
co-opt + movement + by + offering inducement
Many activists felt the union had been co-opted by management after the new bonus deal.
passive: be co-opted by + opposing party
Critics warned that the foundation was being co-opted to defend the very industry it once opposed.
The protest movement refused to be co-opted into the mayor's re-election strategy.
- absorb
neutral on motive; co-opt implies the absorbing party gains and the absorbed party loses independence
- neutralise
stresses the outcome (the opposition no longer fights); co-opt stresses the method (bringing them inside)
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + into + movement/cause
用法筆記
Frequently passive; subject is usually a movement, group, cause, or voice, and the agent (the co-opter) is a more powerful body trying to neutralise opposition. Distinguish from sense 1: there is no formal vote here — the absorption is strategic, not procedural.
常見錯誤
3. When somebody takes an idea, image, style, or object that began with another per
When somebody takes an idea, image, style, or object that began with another person or group, and repurposes it to serve their own goals — for example, a brand turning a street-art motif into a logo, or a politician borrowing a protest slogan to win votes.
Fast-fashion brands have co-opted designs that originated in small Mexican weaving villages.
co-opt + cultural product + that originated in + community
The advertising agency co-opted the green-square symbol from a grassroots climate campaign.
co-opt + symbol + from + original group
Christopher accused his manager of co-opting the report's main idea without giving him any credit.
Local councils have co-opted the empty bank as a free workspace for young start-ups.
The film studio was accused of co-opting Joon's short story for its blockbuster script.
- appropriate
near-synonym; appropriate is often the preferred verb when the taking is cultural
- hijack
stronger and clearly hostile; co-opt can be polite or commercial
- credit
the opposite move: name and reward the original source
文法句型
co-opt + something + for + new purpose
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 takes a person or movement; sense 3 takes an idea, image, or object. Often carries a negative tone — the original owner usually gets no credit and no payment.
常見錯誤
4. When a person already in charge picks somebody to help them in a role, doing it
When a person already in charge picks somebody to help them in a role, doing it on their own authority instead of running an open competition or proper election.
The senior surgeon co-opted Eleni as her assistant for the long Friday operation.
co-opt + person + as + assistant
Without waiting for the panel, the director co-opted Zola to draft the museum's new policy.
without waiting for + body + co-opt + person + to + task
The chief inspector co-opted two off-duty officers to guard the crime scene overnight.
The festival organiser co-opted Élise as a last-minute interpreter when the booked one failed to arrive.
文法句型
co-opt + somebody + as + assistant/colleague
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 needs an elected body voting in a new member; sense 4 is one person in authority drafting someone in as helper or colleague — no vote, no group decision. Less common than sense 1 in current usage.