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

Joining him in his quest to protect Eternia are Duncan/Man-At-Arms; Duncan's adoptive daughter, Teela; Duncan's brother Malcolm/Fisto; Roboto; and Ram-Man. —Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Jan. 2026

Clayton Dietz, who is now facing murder charges, allegedly got mad at his adoptive father, Douglas Dietz, when Douglas took away his Nintendo Switch and told him to go to bed. —Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026

Schroedle, 82, was a fourth-grade teacher at Crocker/Riverside Elementary School in Land Park in January 1991 when Jennifer, 9, her mother Marcy Jacobs, 31, and her adoptive father Michael Jacobs, 33, were found dead at their home at 522 Robertson Way, one street from the school. —Graham Womack updated January 15, Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Advocates call for new laws to help children The adoptive mother told the Statesman that her 9-year-old son had a long adoption process. —Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 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)