What does cooptative mean?
"Cooptative" is a rare formal adjective describing something that involves or is characteristic of co-optation — the practice by which an existing body, such as a council, committee, or club, chooses its own new members rather than having them elected by outsiders or the wider public. A cooptative body thus has the power to perpetuate itself: when a vacancy arises, the sitting members simply invite or vote in a successor. The word appears mainly in legal, historical, and institutional writing, where scholars discuss the advantages and dangers of cooptative arrangements. Such systems can ensure continuity and expertise, but critics note they may also entrench a small self-selecting group and shut out fresh voices. Though seldom encountered outside specialist contexts, "cooptative" offers a precise term for describing how much of elite recruitment — from ancient Roman priesthoods to modern corporate boards — actually takes place behind closed doors.
adjectiveRelating to or characterized by co-optation, the act of selecting someone for membership or office by invitation of the existing members rather than by election.
- Of, relating to, or involving co-optation — the filling of vacancies in a body by the choice of its existing members rather than by election.
"The club's cooptative procedure meant new fellows were chosen entirely by the sitting committee."
"The board retained its cooptative right, filling each vacancy by internal vote rather than public election."
"Critics argued that the society's cooptative character kept it closed to outsiders and new ideas."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cooptative
"Cooptative" derives from the Latin verb cooptare, meaning "to choose together" or "to elect," formed from the prefix co- (together) plus optare, "to choose or desire." The same root optare underlies related English words such as "co-opt," "co-option," "optative," and, through its Latin derivative adoptare, "adopt." The English adjective was formed on the pattern of other Latin-derived adjectives in -ative and is used chiefly in discussions of institutional governance where members are chosen by their peers.
How cooptative is actually used
A rare word found chiefly in formal, legal, and historical writing about institutions such as city councils, learned societies, and clubs that fill seats by co-optation rather than popular election.
Easily confused with cooptative
Cooperative means working jointly with others toward a common goal, whereas cooptative describes selection into a group by the existing members' choice.
Optative relates to expressing wish or desire (especially in grammar), while cooptative concerns choosing members by co-optation.