To appoint or elect someone to a position, committee, or group without a formal election; or to absorb or assimilate something.
From Latin 'cooptare' (co- meaning 'together' + optare meaning 'to choose or wish'). The term entered English from legal and governmental contexts where it described selecting members to fill vacancies.
When an institution 'coopts' someone—like a university coopting a radical activist onto its board—it can mean either genuine inclusion or strategic neutralization. The term carries loaded meanings in political and social contexts.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.