cooptation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Political/Organizational
Quick answer
What does “cooptation” mean?
The act of selecting someone as a member of a group by vote of existing members.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of selecting someone as a member of a group by vote of existing members; the absorption of a minority group or idea into a larger, established structure.
More broadly, the process by which a group (often a ruling or dominant one) assimilates, neutralizes, or appropriates members, ideas, or movements from outside, thereby diffusing potential opposition or incorporating new elements while maintaining control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'cooptation' is common, but 'co-option' (with hyphen) is also widely used, especially in British English. 'Cooption' (no hyphen, no extra 't') is a less common variant.
Connotations
In both varieties, the connotation is often strategic or political. The term is most at home in political science, sociology, and organizational theory contexts.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech. Slightly more frequent in American academic and political writing, but the concept is equally recognized in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “cooptation” in a Sentence
cooptation of [GROUP/IDEA]cooptation into [ORGANIZATION]cooptation by [DOMINANT GROUP]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cooptation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee voted to co-opt three new members to broaden its expertise.
- The party machinery successfully co-opted the rebel faction.
American English
- The board moved to coopt several industry influencers.
- The movement's radical slogans were coopted by mainstream advertisers.
adjective
British English
- The co-optive process ensured dissenting voices were brought inside the tent.
American English
- The cooptive strategy effectively neutralized the opposition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board's cooptation of a younger tech entrepreneur was seen as an attempt to modernize its image.
Academic
The study examines the state's cooptation of grassroots movements to maintain social control.
Everyday
(Rarely used in everyday conversation)
Technical
In corporate governance, cooptation can reduce board independence by aligning new members with existing management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cooptation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cooptation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cooptation”
- Misspelling as 'cooperation'.
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'election' or 'appointment' without the strategic nuance.
- Incorrect stress: /ˈkuːp.teɪ.ʃən/ (like 'coop').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different. 'Cooperation' means working together jointly. 'Cooptation' is a specific process where one group selectively brings another person or group into its structure, often for strategic reasons.
Rarely. While it can be framed positively as 'inclusion,' the term typically carries a neutral-to-negative connotation of a calculated move by the powerful to maintain control, often at the cost of the coopted entity's independence.
Recruitment is a broader, often neutral term for finding and hiring people. Cooptation implies the existing members choose someone, often from a different or opposing group, specifically to absorb their influence or dilute their opposition.
Both are used. 'Co-opt' (with a hyphen) is the traditional and more common spelling, especially in British English. 'Coopt' is a common modern variant, particularly in American English.
The act of selecting someone as a member of a group by vote of existing members.
Cooptation is usually formal, academic, political/organizational in register.
Cooptation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊ.ɒpˈteɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊ.ɑːpˈteɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a coop (like a chicken coop). The existing chickens VOTE (co-OPT) to let a new chicken IN. They 'co-opt' it into their group, sometimes to stop it causing trouble outside.
Conceptual Metaphor
ASSIMILATION IS DIGESTION (The group 'digests' or absorbs new elements). POWER IS A NET (The powerful 'net' or capture potential threats by bringing them inside).
Practice
Quiz
In political sociology, what is the PRIMARY purpose of 'cooptation'?