Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One, such as a child, that is or has been adopted.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An adopted son or daughter. A foster child.
  • noun A person who was adopted as a child.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone (such as a child) who has been adopted

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Learned borrowing from French adoptée, feminine past participle of adopter meaning "to adopt"

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Examples

  • The stories were all different but the feeling of the birth family member or the adoptee was the same — longing.

    A Brother By Any Other Name | Her Bad Mother 2009

  • In this category are articles suggesting that Jobs' status as an adoptee is a reason to restrict abortion access in general.

    Marianne Mollmann: Why the Use of Steve Jobs as an Anti-Choice Political Stunt Is Flawed Marianne Mollmann 2011

  • The stories were all different but the feeling of the birth family member or the adoptee was the same -- longing.

    A Brother By Any Other Name 2009

  • Grizz is one of three cats the Hopkinses own, but is the only adoptee, which is why Amy Hopkins decided to enter him in the contest.

    SunHerald.com: Featured Story 2009

  • There’s a trend in domestic adoptions toward openness—in other words, the adoptee, birth parent one or both, and adoptive family all have a degree of contact with one another and share relevant information, including health histories.

    YOU The Smart Patient Michael F. Roizen 2006

  • There’s a trend in domestic adoptions toward openness—in other words, the adoptee, birth parent one or both, and adoptive family all have a degree of contact with one another and share relevant information, including health histories.

    YOU The Smart Patient Michael F. Roizen 2006

  • Indy 'adoptee' touts benefits of living and working in city, and is helping young professionals become patrons of the arts.

    IndyStar.com Top Stories 2010

  • In Dana Point's case the "adoptee" is the Camp Pendleton-based 5th Marine Regiment, whose headquarters unit is now is Al Asad as Regimental Combat Team 5.

    The Orange County Register - Homepage 2008

  • I do not consider adult adoptees "children", I use it because the adoptee was a child when the adoption occurred)

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local 2009

  • I do not consider adult adoptees "children", I use it because the adoptee was a child when the adoption occurred)

    Denver Post: News: Breaking: Local 2009

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