adoptive
adjective
adop·tive ə-ˈdäp-tiv 
1
: made or acquired by adoption
the adoptive father
2
: of or relating to adoption
adoptively adverb
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The film follows an undocumented Vietnamese woman in Kuala Lumpur, and the relationship with her daughter who lives with adoptive parents. 
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 The couple faced legal repercussions because Malawi requires adoptive parents to live in the country for at least 18 months to become a resident, and residency is a prerequisite to legal adoption. Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 His adoptive parents lived in Kent, where his father was an accountant and his mother a homemaker. Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 Williams-Baugh said, referring to her adoptive parents. USA Today, 22 Aug. 2022 As adoptive parents settle into their new routine, teenage Zsófi starts to have doubts. Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Michael Rezendes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Michael Rezendes, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 See More
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2022 The couple faced legal repercussions because Malawi requires adoptive parents to live in the country for at least 18 months to become a resident, and residency is a prerequisite to legal adoption. Emy Lacroix, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 His adoptive parents lived in Kent, where his father was an accountant and his mother a homemaker. Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2022 Williams-Baugh said, referring to her adoptive parents. USA Today, 22 Aug. 2022 As adoptive parents settle into their new routine, teenage Zsófi starts to have doubts. Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Michael Rezendes, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Michael Rezendes, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2022 The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 See More 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
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)
United States v. White, 766 F. Supp. 873 (1991)adoptive
adjective
as in adopted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- adopted
- nonbiological
- illegitimate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- biological
- natural
- birth
- biologic
- legitimate
- consanguineous