adoption

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The legal process by which a person takes another's child into their family and becomes its lawful parent.

   Grammar: Uncountable for the process: open to adoption; countable for a case: three adoptions this year.

   Patterns

   • adoption of someone
   • put someone up for adoption
   • give a child up for adoption

   The couple finalized the adoption of their daughter last spring.

   She was placed for adoption at birth and later met her birth mother.

   The agency arranges adoptions for children in foster care.

2. 2noununcountable

   The decision to start using a new idea, method, tool or technology.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable and followed by of: the adoption of electric vehicles.

   Patterns

   • adoption of something
   • widespread adoption
   • early adoption

   The adoption of online banking changed how people manage money.

   Schools were slow in the adoption of tablets.

   Wider adoption of solar panels could lower energy bills.

3. 3noununcountableformal

   The formal acceptance of a proposal, report, law or plan by a group or body, usually by a vote.

   Grammar: Often used with approval in formal contexts: the adoption of the budget.

   Patterns

   • adoption of something
   • adoption by someone

   The board voted for the adoption of the new policy.

   Delegates approved the adoption of the treaty after long debate.

4. 4nouncountable or uncountable

   The taking of a pet or animal from a shelter into a home as its owner.

   Grammar: Common at animal shelters: pet adoption days.

   Patterns

   • pet adoption
   • adoption fee

   The shelter holds an adoption event every Saturday.

   The adoption fee covers vaccinations for the puppy.

Word forms

Common combinations

put up for adoption

The baby was put up for adoption soon after birth.

adoption agency

They contacted an adoption agency to begin the process.

widespread adoption

Widespread adoption of the standard made devices work together.

adoption process

The adoption process took nearly two years.

early adoption

Early adoption of the app gave the company a head start.

Synonyms and how they differ

uptake

Uptake focuses on how many people begin to use something, while adoption names the act of taking it up.

acceptance

Acceptance is broader and can mean simply agreeing or tolerating, but adoption suggests actively putting an idea to use.

fostering

Fostering is temporary care of a child, unlike adoption, which is permanent and legal.

Opposites

Word family

adopt verb

To take a child or idea as one's own.

adoptive adjective

Having adopted a child, as in adoptive parents.

adopted adjective

Taken into a family by adoption, or chosen for use.

adopter noun

A person who takes up something new, as in early adopter.

Commonly confused: adoption or adaption? adoption or adaptation?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “adoption”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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