adoptive

adjective

adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv How to pronounce adoptive (audio)
Synonyms of adoptivenext
1
: made or acquired by adoption
the adoptive father
2
: of or relating to adoption
adoptively adverb

Examples of adoptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After a New York City childhood spent with their loving adoptive father, Annie (Ella Rubin) and her brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo) find themselves in possession of Sterling Point, a remote island in Ontario’s Muskoka region. — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026 Sterling Point Season 1 centers on 17-year-old Annie Jacobson (Ella Rubin), raised in New York City with her twin brother Connor (Keen Ruffalo) and loving adoptive father Steven (Jay Duplass). — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026 Namely, Ramona learned her biological dad is Steven (Jay Duplass), who is Annie and Connor’s adoptive father. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 In the book, Finch recounts how a tumultuous childhood at the hands of an abusive adoptive mom led her to want to escape her homelife. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adoptive

Word History

Etymology

Middle English adoptif, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French adoptif, going back to Old French, borrowed from Latin adoptīvus, from adoptāre "to adopt" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of adoptive was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing adoptive

Browse Nearby Words

adoptionism
adoptive
adoptive arms
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adoptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoptive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

adoptive

adjective
adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv How to pronounce adoptive (audio)
: made by or associated with adoption
the adoptive parents

Legal Definition

adoptive

adjective
adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv How to pronounce adoptive (audio)
1
a
: having adopted
an adoptive parent
b
: having been adopted
an adoptive child
2
: made or acquired by accepting as one's own the words or actions of another
to constitute an adoptive admission…defendant must actually understand what was said and have an opportunity to deny it—United States v. White, 766 F. Supp. 873 (1991)

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