noun
Common
adaptation
ad-uhp-TAY-shuhn
Adaptation (noun) means the process of adjusting something, or of adjusting to a new situation. Example: “Adaptation to a new school can be hard for shy children.”
noun
1
The process of adjusting something, or of adjusting to a new situation.
"Adaptation to a new school can be hard for shy children."
"Adaptation to remote work took most teams several months."
"The plan needed constant adaptation as circumstances changed."
2
A book, story, or other work reshaped for a different medium, such as film or stage.
"Our drama club is rehearsing a new adaptation of a classic children's story."
"The movie is a fairly loose adaptation of the novel."
"Critics praised the stage adaptation for staying true to the book's tone."
3
(biology) A trait or change that helps a living thing survive better in its environment.
"A camel's wide feet are an adaptation that stops it sinking into soft sand."
"Thick fur is an adaptation that helps arctic foxes survive the cold."
"Over many generations, the finches developed beak adaptations suited to different foods."
How to use adaptation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA change made to fit new conditions, or a version of a story reworked for a new format.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
film adaptation
adaptation to the environment
undergo adaptation
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like adaptation.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- adaptations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ to a new school can be hard for shy children.
Etymology
From French adaptation, from Latin adaptatio, built on adaptare, "to fit to."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for adaptation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for adaptation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “adaptation” mean?
The word “adaptation” means the process of adjusting something, or of adjusting to a new situation. In plain terms, a change made to fit new conditions, or a version of a story reworked for a new format.
How do you pronounce “adaptation”?
“Adaptation” is pronounced ad-uhp-TAY-shuhn (/ˌæd.æpˈteɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “adaptation” in a sentence?
Here is “adaptation” used in a sentence: “Adaptation to remote work took most teams several months.”
What part of speech is “adaptation”?
“Adaptation” is a noun.
Where does the word “adaptation” come from?
The word “adaptation” comes from Latin. From French adaptation, from Latin adaptatio, built on adaptare, "to fit to.".
Is “adaptation” a common word?
“Adaptation” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “adaptation” have?
“Adaptation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of adjusting something, or of adjusting to a new situation.
What is the difference between adaptation and adaption?
They mean the same thing, but adaptation is the standard form in both British and American English, while adaption is a much less common variant. Careful writers and editors generally prefer adaptation, and it is the spelling used in scientific and literary contexts alike.
What is the difference between an adaptation and an adjustment?
An adjustment is usually a small change made to fine-tune something, while an adaptation is a fuller change that suits something or someone to new conditions. Adaptation also carries specialised senses that adjustment does not, such as a biological trait that aids survival or a story reworked for film or stage.
How is biological adaptation different from everyday adaptation?
In everyday use, adaptation is the process of adjusting to a new situation, such as adapting to a new job. In biology it is more specific: an adaptation is a trait or change that helps a living thing survive better in its environment, such as camouflage or thick fur in cold climates, and it typically arises over many generations rather than within one lifetime.
What is a film adaptation?
A film adaptation is a book, play, or other work that has been reshaped for the screen. The term signals that the movie is based on existing source material rather than an original screenplay, and the same idea applies to stage adaptations and television adaptations.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include adaptation:
