adoptee

noun

adopt·​ee ə-ˌdäp-ˈtē How to pronounce adoptee (audio)
: one who is adopted

Examples of adoptee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The child’s right to know her own identity and history should be guaranteed, but for adoptees under these circumstances or trafficking victims, that right is erased. — Ashoka, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 As Liz says, the movie is inspired by her real-life experience as an adoptee who comes from a large family with several members who are disabled. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 She was born in New York, which has allowed adoptees to access their original birth certificate since 2020. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Special rules apply to recent adoptees and children who were born and died during the same tax year. — Nancy Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for adoptee

Word History

Etymology

adopt + -ee entry 1

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of adoptee was in 1804

Rhymes for adoptee

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Browse Nearby Words

adopted
adoptee
adoptian
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Cite this Entry

“Adoptee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adoptee. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

adoptee

noun
adopt·​ee ə-ˌdäp-ˈtē How to pronounce adoptee (audio)
: a person who is adopted

More from Merriam-Webster on adoptee

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adoptee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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