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:
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.