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

Several others chose the 2009 biographical drama, starring Sandra Bullock as the adoptive mother of a teen who turns his life around and enters the NFL. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026

Abused, neglected, abandoned pigs At Willeyville Farm, Houk and, Jones-Willey and other volunteers were recently caring for about 40 pigs, with the goal of finding them adoptive homes. —Eric Adler april 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026

Instead, their newborn was placed in his adoptive mother’s arms — a final step in an adoption that has haunted Abbi every day since. —Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026

What started as a small shop with a cheerful yellow door in Swarthmore has grown into something much bigger for foster and adoptive families across Delaware County, Pennsylvania. —Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 20 Apr. 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)