# adoption

Pronunciation: say "uh-DOP-shuhn" US /əˈdɑp.ʃən/, UK /əˈdɒp.ʃən/

## Noun

1. The acceptance of another couple's or person's child as one's own, and the resulting state of being so accepted.
   - Simple: Taking another person's child into your family to raise as your own.
   - _The couple pursued adoption after struggling for years to have children._
   - _Open adoption allows the birth parents to stay in contact with the child._
2. The act of accepting a method, proposal, or technique and putting it into effect or practice.
   - Simple: Choosing to start using a new method, idea, or way of doing something.
   - _The board's adoption of the merger plan surprised the shareholders._
   - _Widespread adoption of the technique transformed how surgeons operate._
3. The act of adopting; the taking on of a person, practice, or thing as one's own.
   - Simple: The act of taking on a person, idea, or thing as your own.
   - _The adoption of stricter rules followed months of complaints._
   - _His sudden adoption of a vegetarian diet puzzled his friends._
4. The act of choosing something that originally was not one's own and making it so; acceptance.
   - Simple: Choosing something that was not yours before and making it your own.
   - _The settlers' adoption of native farming methods ensured their survival._
   - _Her gradual adoption of the city's accent went unnoticed by her._
5. The move from an existing system to a different and usually better one.
   - Simple: Switching from an old system to a new and usually better one.
   - _The hospital's adoption of electronic records reduced paperwork dramatically._
   - _Widespread adoption of renewable energy systems requires major infrastructure changes._
6. The taking of a person into an institution such as a hospital, clinic, or psychiatric facility.
   - Simple: Being taken into a place like a hospital or clinic for care.
   - _His adoption into the psychiatric facility followed a court order._
   - _The records noted her adoption to the hospital on the night of the storm._
7. In Christian theology, the act of divine grace by which those redeemed in Christ are received into the privileges of God's children.
   - Simple: In Christian belief, being welcomed by God as one of his own children.
   - _Paul's letters present adoption as the believer's entry into God's family._
   - _The doctrine of adoption assures the faithful of their place among God's children._
8. In gaming, a streak of ten consecutive wins against the same opponent. *(slang)*
   - Simple: In games, winning ten times in a row against the same player.
   - _She claimed the adoption with her tenth consecutive victory over him._
   - _Bragging rights came with the adoption he scored that season._

## Origin

Borrowed from French adoption, from Latin adoptio, which is related to adoptare ("to adopt"). It can also be seen as adopt plus the suffix -ion.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/adoption (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).