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

Researchers tracked 29 canines during their first days in a shelter, again after 12 days, and later in their adoptive homes, comparing them with pet dogs in stable households. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025

Nicholas Alexander is cast as Moses’ adoptive brother Ramses. —David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

Turnage was offered the plea in exchange for testifying against Jeremiah Moore’s adoptive mother, Tamara Moore, who faces a murder charge, the prosecutor’s office said. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2025

In the episode, Arnold is being bullied, so Willis and their adoptive sister Kimberly (Dana Plato) write to Ali claiming that Arnold is dying of a rare tropical disease. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2025

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)