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
His adoptive mother, Tamara Moore, and a man, William Turnage, have been indicted in connection with his death.
—
The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
The boy’s adoptive mother, Tamera Moore, 52, was arrested April 12 on charges of murder and endangering children, according to a news release from the Springfield Township Police Department.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
At age six, Ethan's tenure of deprivation ended and a rich life of loving care started with Julie, his adoring adoptive mother.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Tia starred as Tia Landry, daughter of adoptive mother Lisa (Harry), who unexpectedly meets her twin sister, Tamera Campbell, daughter of adoptive father Ray (Reid).
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Throughout, the novel is preoccupied by the constant synthesizing required of immigrants, for whom an adoptive country can hold the fascination of a work of art.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
They were united in their fierce commitment to the Jewish state, having found in their adoptive country an identity that largely transcended their American passport.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024
Kelly’s adoptive brothers in accent were hard to place — there were comparisons to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (who grew up in Alabama), Kenny Chesney (Tennessee) and Foghorn Leghorn (cartoon rooster based in part on a fictional politician based on a Texas rancher).
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Reprising roles played both at OSF and at Yale Repertory Theater, Ixtlán is sweetly attentive as Luke, the White banker’s adoptive Lenape son, who carries a torch for Jane.
—Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024
The boy’s adoptive mother, Tamera Moore, 52, was arrested April 12 on charges of murder and endangering children, according to a news release from the Springfield Township Police Department.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024
At age six, Ethan's tenure of deprivation ended and a rich life of loving care started with Julie, his adoring adoptive mother.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Tia starred as Tia Landry, daughter of adoptive mother Lisa (Harry), who unexpectedly meets her twin sister, Tamera Campbell, daughter of adoptive father Ray (Reid).
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Throughout, the novel is preoccupied by the constant synthesizing required of immigrants, for whom an adoptive country can hold the fascination of a work of art.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
They were united in their fierce commitment to the Jewish state, having found in their adoptive country an identity that largely transcended their American passport.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024
Kelly’s adoptive brothers in accent were hard to place — there were comparisons to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky (who grew up in Alabama), Kenny Chesney (Tennessee) and Foghorn Leghorn (cartoon rooster based in part on a fictional politician based on a Texas rancher).
—New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Reprising roles played both at OSF and at Yale Repertory Theater, Ixtlán is sweetly attentive as Luke, the White banker’s adoptive Lenape son, who carries a torch for Jane.
—Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adoptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near adoptive
Cite this Entry
“Adoptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoptive. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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)
United States v. White, 766 F. Supp. 873 (1991)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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