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
These mental pictures settled my idea of America, my adoptive country, turning the abstract into reality.
—
Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
His sisters’ statement was read in court Wednesday morning before a Placer Superior Court judge sentenced their adoptive father, 39-year-old Cory Albert Blakley, to 15 years to life in prison for Cyrus’ murder.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
Trace posted a follow-up message after his first letter, claiming his adoptive father was threatening him with legal action over the initial letter.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
The first Fatal Fury game offered only three playable characters: Terry and Andy Bogard, two adoptive brothers out for revenge against the man that killed their father, and their best friend Joe Higashi.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adoptive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
His sisters’ statement was read in court Wednesday morning before a Placer Superior Court judge sentenced their adoptive father, 39-year-old Cory Albert Blakley, to 15 years to life in prison for Cyrus’ murder.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2025
Trace posted a follow-up message after his first letter, claiming his adoptive father was threatening him with legal action over the initial letter.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2025
The first Fatal Fury game offered only three playable characters: Terry and Andy Bogard, two adoptive brothers out for revenge against the man that killed their father, and their best friend Joe Higashi.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adoptive
Cite this Entry
“Adoptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoptive. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share