Synonyms

adaptive

American

[uh-dap-tiv] / əˈdæp tɪv /

adjective

serving or able to adapt; showing or contributing to adaptation.

the adaptive coloring of a chameleon.

Other Word Forms

adaptively adverb
adaptiveness noun
adaptivity noun
nonadaptive adjective
readaptive adjective
readaptively adverb
readaptiveness noun
unadaptive adjective
unadaptively adverb
unadaptiveness noun

Etymology

Origin of adaptive

First recorded in 1815–25; adapt + -ive

Compare meaning

How does adaptive compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

adaptive vs. maladaptive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“This is the paradigm we need: collaborative, adaptive management versus conflict and litigation.”

From Los Angeles Times

Holocaust education froze antisemitism in the past, turning a living, adaptive hatred into a museum exhibit.

From The Wall Street Journal

Large, adaptive randomized trials with consistent definitions and biomarker-based patient grouping are urgently needed.

From Science Daily

“The building could readily have been painted and preserved to serve in an adaptive re-use capacity as a gem in the community,” said the organization.

From Los Angeles Times

Evolution repurposed ancient infections into essential parts of human biology, including the placenta and adaptive immunity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023