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

As previously reported, Gunn has described his take as less of an origin story and more of a journey, with Superman struggling to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage and aristocratic origins with his small-town adoptive human family. —ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025

Kristine Brown's White adoptive family from Connecticut was Italian. —David Oliver, USA Today, 9 May 2025

But Clint later set the record straight so that Yelena understood that her adoptive sister sacrificed herself for the sake of bringing half the population back from Thanos’ blip, including Yelena. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 5 May 2025

Jango Fett's Starship Key Chain, the Kamino Training Facility set and a Millennium Falcon mini build, come free (while stocks last) with your purchase — which means this set is going to sell out faster than Jango's adoptive son Boba Fett disappearing into the Pit of Sarlacc in Return of the Jedi. —Paul Brett, Space.com, 4 May 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)