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

Gallagher, who played a father to Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) and adoptive father to Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), who was Barton's love interest both on and off-screen, was evidently aware of that. —Julia Moore, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024

One notable alteration in the show’s depiction of Kiryu’s adoptive father, Kazama (Toshiaki Karasawa). —Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024

The 10-episode Original Sin is set in 1991 Miami and follows Dexter (Gibson), a student refining his killer skills with the help and support of his adoptive father Harry (Christian Slater). —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 26 July 2024

This marked the formal beginning of the Maria Cristina Foundation, named after her adoptive mother. —Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024

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)