adoption
HighFormal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The legal or formal act of taking another's child as one's own; taking something up, accepting, or choosing it.
The action or fact of choosing to take up, follow, or use something (e.g., a policy, technology, practice, or idea).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun denoting an event or process. The verb form is 'adopt'. Core meaning is legal/familial; extended meaning applies widely to ideas, technologies, etc.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling and legal procedures may differ slightly in context.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/legal connotation in everyday UK English compared to US, where it's more commonly used in business/tech contexts.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher in US corpora due to common business/tech usage ('technology adoption').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
adoption of + NOUN (policy, technology)adoption by + AGENT (company, government)adoption for + PURPOSE (safety, efficiency)adoption as + ROLE (heir, standard)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a child is available for adoption”
- “fast-track adoption”
- “put a child up for adoption”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the uptake of new technology, processes, or standards by a company or market.
Academic
Used in social sciences for policy/idea diffusion; in law for family law studies.
Everyday
Primarily associated with the process of legally becoming the parent of a child who is not one's biological offspring.
Technical
In computing, refers to the implementation and use of new software, protocols, or frameworks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They decided to adopt a child from overseas.
- The council voted to adopt the new neighbourhood plan.
American English
- They are looking to adopt a puppy from the shelter.
- The company will adopt the new software standard next quarter.
adverb
British English
- The policy was adoptively implemented across departments.
adjective
British English
- The adoptive parents were overjoyed.
- They went through the adoptive process.
American English
- They attended an adoptive family picnic.
- The adoptive mother shared her story.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The adoption of the new baby made the family very happy.
- He talked about the adoption of his cat.
- The adoption process can take several years.
- The rapid adoption of smartphones changed communication.
- International adoption involves complex legal requirements in both countries.
- The widespread adoption of renewable energy is crucial for combating climate change.
- The committee recommended the adoption of the new fiscal policy despite some dissent.
- Her research focuses on the factors influencing the early adoption of innovations within organisations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a shop (a-doption) where you can choose (opt) to take something home permanently.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADOPTION IS TAKING IN (a child, an idea into one's mental 'family').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'адаптация' (adaptation).
- The verb 'adopt' is not 'адаптировать'.
- In legal contexts, 'усыновление/удочерение' is the precise equivalent for child adoption.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'adoption' to mean 'adaptation' (e.g., 'the adoption of the book into a film' is wrong; use 'adaptation').
- Misspelling as 'addoption'.
- Confusing 'adopt' with 'adapt'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'adoption'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while the core legal meaning relates to children, it is widely used metaphorically for the acceptance and use of ideas, technologies, policies, and practices.
The verb form is 'to adopt'. It is a regular verb (adopt, adopted, adopted).
No, they are different. 'Adoption' means taking something up or accepting it. 'Adaptation' means changing something to suit a new purpose or environment.
Fostering is typically a temporary arrangement to care for a child, while adoption is a permanent legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities.
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