Adopted: meaning, definitions and examples

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adopted

 

[ əˈdɒptɪd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

family relation

The term 'adopted' refers to a person who has been legally taken into another's family and raised as their own child. This can occur for various reasons, including the inability of the biological parents to care for the child or the desire of adoptive parents to provide a home for a child in need.

Synonyms

fostered, received, taken in

Examples of usage

  • He is my adopted brother.
  • She was adopted at a young age.
  • They have an adopted daughter.
  • The couple is considering adopting a child.
Context #2 | Verb

legal process

To adopt means to take legally the child of another person as one’s own. This process usually involves a legal proceeding where the parental rights of the biological parents are terminated, and the adoptive parents assume all responsibilities and privileges of parenthood.

Synonyms

accept, assume, take on

Examples of usage

  • They decided to adopt a girl from the orphanage.
  • After months of legal paperwork, they finally adopted.
  • The family adopted a puppy from the shelter.
  • She adopted a new approach to studying.

Translations

Translations of the word "adopted" in other languages:

🇵🇹 adotado

🇮🇳 ग्रहण किया हुआ

🇩🇪 adoptiert

🇮🇩 diadopsi

🇺🇦 усиновлений

🇵🇱 adoptowany

🇯🇵 養子にされた

🇫🇷 adopté

🇪🇸 adoptado

🇹🇷 evlat edinilmiş

🇰🇷 입양된

🇸🇦 مُتبنى

🇨🇿 adoptovaný

🇸🇰 adoptovaný

🇨🇳 被收养的

🇸🇮 posvojen

🇮🇸 adopted

🇰🇿 қабылданған

🇬🇪 დახმარებული

🇦🇿 adopte edilmiş

🇲🇽 adoptado

Word origin

The word 'adopted' originates from the Latin word 'adoptare', which means 'to choose for oneself'. It is a combination of 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'optare', which means 'to choose'. The term began to take on its modern connotation in the context of legal relationships in the Middle Ages. As societies evolved and family structures became more complex, the practice of adoption became formally recognized and codified in various legal systems. The word has since evolved to encompass not only the legal act of adopting a child but also the broader sense of accepting or taking on anything as one's own, such as ideas or new practices. This demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of language over time, responding to changes in societal values regarding family, belonging, and identity.

Word Frequency Rank

At #846 in the frequency ranking, this word is highly important for effective communication. It's commonly used in daily situations and should be prioritized in your vocabulary building.