ADOPTED Definition & Meaning

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adopted

/ əˈ��ɒ��ɪ�� /

adjective

having been adopted Compare adoptive
an adopted child

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Susan's first reaction was that she may have been secretly adopted.

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Hungary's decision aligns with its broader foreign policy stance under Orban, who has cultivated close ties with Israel and adopted a critical view of international institutions perceived as infringing on national sovereignty.

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Unlike Canada, Mexico or the European Union, India has so far adopted a conciliatory approach to Trump and is negotiating a bilateral deal with the US.

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“The child is already living in an orphanage and that is a good place to start because they may have already found he’s eligible to be adopted,” Brown said.

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They said the state adopted ambitious water recycling goals in 2009 but those targets were effectively abandoned under a state strategy adopted in 2022.

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Related �y��vlogs

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More About Adopted

What does��adopted mean?

The adjective adopted is used to describe a person who has been permanently (and typically formally and legally) taken into the custody of an adult or adult couple who act as that person’s parent(s) or guardian(s).

The adjective adopted comes from the past tense form of adopt, which means to take someone in and act as their guardian in this way. The process of adopting is adoption. An adopted person can be called an adoptee.

Many adopted people used the adjective adopted as a way to identify that they are adopted, as in I’m adopted.

The adjective adoptive means related by adoption. A person’s adoptive family is the one they were adopted into. The word can also be applied to specific family members related by adoption, as in adoptive father and adoptive daughter. However, adoptive is most commonly used for parents, while adopted is more commonly applied to a child who has been adopted, as in Their adopted daughter is the newest addition to the family.

Adoption most commonly involves an adult couple or a single adult adopting and raising a child who is no longer in the custody of either of their birth parents (biological parents), such as in cases where they have died or are otherwise unable to care for the child.

Example: The organization provides support for adopted children and their families.

Where does��adopted come from?

The first records of the word adopted as an adjective come from the 1400s. Its base word, adopt, comes from the Latin verb ��Ǳ��, meaning “to choose for oneself,” from �Ǳ��, “to choose.”

Adoption of children is often pursued by people who are unable or who choose not to have biological children, but it can also involve families with their own children adopting other children into the family. A child can also be adopted by a relative, such as an aunt, uncle, or grandparent.

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What are some other forms related to adopted?

adopt (verb)

What are some synonyms for adopted?

adoptive

What are some words that share a root or word element with adopted?��

What are some words that often get used in discussing adopted?

How is��adopted used in real life?

The word adopted is commonly used by people who have been adopted to identify themselves as being adopted.

As early as possible. From when I can remember I have known that I'm adopted.

— Sanet Croucamp (@SanetCroucamp)

Imagine having to leave everything you know behind. Family, friends, pets, home – all in one go. It's what we see adopted children go through every day.

Zara, an adoptive parent, shares how she's helped her adopted children "settle in":

— Action for Children (@actnforchildren)

Is our education system failing adopted children?

— Sound Speak (@SoundspeakSLT)

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Try using��adopted!

Is adopted used correctly in the following sentence?

I’m adopted, and I’ve never felt like I wasn’t a real part of the family.

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