adoptive

adjective

adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv 

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

Bea, now chronically ill, grows up in privileged surroundings with her adoptive mother, while her older sister Phoebe struggles to survive on the streets of Berlin. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Growing up in Manhattan with her twin brother (Keen Ruffalo, son of Mark) and adoptive dad (Jay Duplass), Annie, just 17, will discover a new world, one with a first love and, perhaps, first heartbreak. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 2 Aug. 2026

There is a collision, which adoptive mother and newborn survive — but the beast that caused the accident takes another victim. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026

Hope Lodge | Sutherland, Scotland Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen opened this lodge as part of his intensive, extensive investments into his adoptive home of Scotland, which he’s dubbed Wildland. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026

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

Phrases Containing adoptive

• adoptive immunotherapy
• adoptive parent

Kids Definition

adoptive

adjective

adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv 

: made by or associated with adoption

the adoptive parents

Legal Definition

adoptive

adjective

adop·​tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv 

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)