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
In the previous episode of General Hospital, which aired Monday, Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell) is shown idling in the penthouse of his adoptive father, Sonny (Maurice Benard).
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
In a teaser for the episode that aired on January 1, 2023, Natalia confronted her adoptive father, Michael.
—Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 7 Jan. 2025
The couple shared daughter Zaia, 5, and son Maddox, 8, and Boss was the adoptive father of Holker’s eldest daughter, Weslie, 16.
—Meredith Nardino, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
But the closing minute of the Investigation Discovery show revealed that Antwon and Cynthia Mans were also growing to mistrust their adoptive daughter.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for adoptive 
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Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 8 Jan. 2025
In a teaser for the episode that aired on January 1, 2023, Natalia confronted her adoptive father, Michael.
—Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 7 Jan. 2025
The couple shared daughter Zaia, 5, and son Maddox, 8, and Boss was the adoptive father of Holker’s eldest daughter, Weslie, 16.
—Meredith Nardino, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
But the closing minute of the Investigation Discovery show revealed that Antwon and Cynthia Mans were also growing to mistrust their adoptive daughter.
—Danielle Bacher, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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 24 Jan. 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?
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