WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
a•dop•tion /əˈdɑpʃən/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- the act or process of adopting a child: [uncountable]Adoption can be a long process.[countable]The rate of adoptions has risen.
- taking and carrying out a particular plan:[uncountable]the adoption of the candidate's platform.
a•dop•tion
(ə dop′shən),USA pronunciation n.
a•dop′tion•al, adj.
- the act of adopting:the adoption of a new amendment.
- the state of being adopted.
- Latin adoptiōn-, stem of adoptiō. See ad-, option
- Middle English adopcioun 1300–50