co-opt
UK: /kəʊˈɒpt/ | US: /koʊˈɑːpt/
vt. to appoint or elect someone to a group or committee, often by the existing members
vt. to adopt or assimilate (an idea, method, etc.) into one's own system
The word "co-opt" originates from Latin cooptare, combining co- (a variant of com-, meaning "together") and optare ("to choose"). Historically, it referred to the practice of selecting new members into a group by the group's existing members. Over time, its meaning expanded to include the assimilation of ideas or methods. The morpheme co- appears in many English words (e.g., cooperate, coexist), while opt is also seen in option and adopt.
The committee decided to co-opt two new members to balance the representation.
The political party co-opted the activist's ideas to appeal to younger voters.
The board can co-opt external experts for specialized advice.
Some critics argue that corporations co-opt grassroots movements to neutralize opposition.
The club’s bylaws allow current members to co-opt successors without a general vote.