reappropriate

To seize and reassign.

To appropriate again.

Near-synonym: reassign

To reclaim a term that was previously used to disparage the reclaimers' own social group.

Once a term of homophobic abuse, the term “queer” has been reappropriated as a marker for some gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT), and other marginalized sexual identities.

The term 'People of the Book' has been reappropriated as a means of self-identification by Jews and by the members of certain Christian denominations.