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.

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Heating or cooling the body creates a small stress, she says, which may trigger adaptive or protective responses.

From BBC

When he could arrange a few days off, he would train with instructors in adaptive skiing around the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

They are the mechanisms that enable real-time integration, resilience, and adaptive control.

From Science Daily

Effective tariff policy is adaptive, tightening when dependence persists and easing only when capacity and alternatives are credibly rebuilt.

From The Wall Street Journal

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