adoptionism

noun

adop·​tion·​ism ə-ˈdäp-shə-ˌni-zəm 

variants or adoptianism

often capitalized

: the doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth became the Son of God by adoption

adoptionist

ə-ˈdäp-sh(ə-)nist 

noun often capitalized

Word History

Etymology

adoptionism from adoption + -ism, after earlier Adoptionist "member of a sect believing that Jesus is God's son by adoption," altered from earlier Adoptianist, from Medieval Latin Adoptiānus (from Latin adoptiō adoption + -ānus -an entry 1) + -ist entry 1; adoptianism from adoptianist + -ism

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above