adoption
uh-DOP-shuhn
Adoption (noun) means the legal process of taking a child into your family as your own. Example: “After the adoption, the little girl finally had a bedroom of her own.”
noun
1
The legal process of taking a child into your family as your own.
"After the adoption, the little girl finally had a bedroom of her own."
"The adoption was finalised after a long wait."
"They're considering adoption after years of fertility treatment."
2
The act of starting to use or accept something, such as a method, technology, or plan.
"The council's adoption of the new recycling scheme made the streets noticeably cleaner."
"The adoption of electric vehicles is rising every year."
"Widespread adoption of the new software took months."
How to use adoption
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither legally becoming someone's parent, or a group starting to use something new.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
put up for adoption
adoption rate
widespread adoption
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Word forms
- Plural
- adoptions
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After the _____, the little girl finally had a bedroom of her own.
Etymology
From Latin adoptio, from adoptare ("to adopt"); equivalent to adopt + -ion.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for adoption
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for adoption →
Frequently asked questions
What does “adoption” mean?
The word “adoption” means the legal process of taking a child into your family as your own. In plain terms, either legally becoming someone's parent, or a group starting to use something new.
How do you pronounce “adoption”?
“Adoption” is pronounced uh-DOP-shuhn (/əˈdɑp.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “adoption” in a sentence?
Here is “adoption” used in a sentence: “The adoption was finalised after a long wait.”
What part of speech is “adoption”?
“Adoption” is a noun.
Where does the word “adoption” come from?
The word “adoption” comes from Latin. From Latin adoptio, from adoptare ("to adopt"); equivalent to adopt + -ion.
Is “adoption” a common word?
“Adoption” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “adoption” have?
“Adoption” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the legal process of taking a child into your family as your own.
What is the difference between adoption and fostering?
Adoption is the legal process of taking a child into your family as your own, giving you permanent parental rights, while fostering is a temporary arrangement where a child lives with a carer without full legal transfer of parenthood. Adoption is permanent, whereas fostering is intended as care for a limited period.
What is the difference between adoption and adaptation?
Adoption is the act of starting to use or accept something, such as a technology or plan, while adaptation is the process of changing something to suit new conditions. A company's adoption of new software means it began using it, while its adaptation means it altered the software to fit its needs.
How is adoption used when talking about technology?
In technology and business, adoption refers to the act of starting to use or accept a method, tool, or plan, as in "the adoption of electric vehicles." It measures how widely something new is being taken up rather than any legal or family process.
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