adoptive

[ uh-dop-tiv ]
/ əˈdɒp tɪv /

adjective

of or involving adoption.
acquired or related by adoption: an adoptive father or son.
tending to adopt.

Origin of adoptive

1400–50; < Latin adoptīvus; see adopt, -ive; replacing late Middle English adoptife < Middle French adoptif

usage note for adoptive

Although adoptive in the sense “acquired or related by adoption” can refer to either parent or child in such a relationship, adoptive is customarily applied to the parent ( her adoptive mother ) and adopted to the child ( their adopted son ).

OTHER WORDS FROM adoptive

a·dop·tive·ly, adverb un·a·dop·tive, adjective un·a·dop·tive·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH adoptive

adaptive adoptive adopted adoptive

Words nearby adoptive

adopted, adoptee, adoption, adoption curve, adoption panel, adoptive, adoptive immunity, adoptive immunotherapy, adorable, adoral, adoration

Example sentences from the Web for adoptive

British Dictionary definitions for adoptive

adoptive
/ (əˈdɒptɪv) /

adjective

acquired or related by adoption an adoptive father
of or relating to adoption Compare adopted