Adopted-Adoptive | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

Adopted vs. Adoptive

Adopted

Legally taken as one's own child or taken up and used by someone else

Examples:

After a lengthy discussion, they adopted the new policy.The stray dog was adopted by a loving family.The committee adopted a resolution to support the new project.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Adoptive

/əˈdɒptɪv/
Relating to or resulting from adopting or being adopted.

Examples:

He expressed his deep gratitude toward his adoptive parents.The adoptive cat quickly became the children's best friend.She embraced the challenges of her adoptive culture with enthusiasm.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Adopted describes the status of a person or thing that has been legally taken into a family or group as one's own.
  • You can remember adopted because it has the ed ending, similar to past participles, indicating something has already happened.
  • Adoptive refers to the person or people who have adopted someone, often thought of as in the position of acting or choosing.
  • The root adopt is in both words, but adoptive implies a characteristic or relation to the act of adopting.
  • Adoptive as an adjective describes those who perform the act of adoption, whereas adopted is about the person who has been accepted or taken in.
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