Adoptive
/əˈdɒptɪv/
adjectiveBeginner📊CommonLegal
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Having been legally taken into a family and given parental rights.
/əˈdɒptɪv/
adjectiveneutralBeginner
Legal
Relating to adoption
They are a loving adoptive family.
💡 Simply: Taken into a family and legally made a member.
More Examples
2
He's an adoptive father to three children.
How It's Used
Family
"She has a close relationship with her adoptive parents."
Legal
"The adoptive mother signed the legal documents."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Middle English *adoptif, from Old French adoptif, from Latin adoptivus, from adoptare "to adopt."
The word 'adoptive' has been used in legal and family contexts since the Middle Ages, reflecting societal attitudes toward adoption.
Memory tip
Think of 'adopt' – to take as one's own.
Word Origin
Original meaning
"to adopt"
adoptive familyadoptive parentsadoptive child
Common misspellings
adoptiveeadoptiv
Practice
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written