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
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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
See all Example Sentences for adoptive
Dictionary Entries Near adoptive
Cite this Entry
“Adoptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoptive. Accessed 29 Nov. 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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