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Adoption: Definition and Synonyms
Adoption – Definition and Part of Speech
The term “adoption” refers primarily as a noun. It encompasses several key concepts:
- Legal Process: The act or process by which someone legally assumes the parenting role for another, usually a child.
- Acceptance: The action or fact of accepting an idea, proposal, or change in practice.
Core Synonyms
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assumption | Implies taking over a role or responsibility. | “The child’s adoption marked the assumption of parental duties by the couple.” | Formal, Business |
| Acceptance | Focuses on the act of approving or embracing an idea. | “The board’s acceptance of new policy changes was unanimous.” | Academic/Informal |
| Embrace | Conveys warmth and enthusiasm in approval. | “The community embraced the cultural festival with open arms.” | Informal/Creative Writing |
| Integration | Highlights a merging or combination process. | “The integration of new employees was smooth thanks to comprehensive training.” | Business/Technical |
Usage Notes
- Assumption: Ideal for formal contexts where the focus is on taking responsibility, such as business settings or legal documents.
- Acceptance: Versatile across different registers; useful when referring to both people and abstract concepts in academic papers and casual speech.
- Embrace: Best used in informal or creative writing. It conveys a sense of warmth and positivity, making it suitable for narratives or persuasive essays.
- Integration: Often used in business and technical contexts to describe the process of combining elements into a cohesive whole.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing “adoption” with simple usage such as “use” can lead to misunderstandings. While related, adoption implies a formal agreement or acceptance, whereas use does not.
- The term “embrace,” although similar to adoption in its connotations of accepting or approving, carries an emotional warmth that might not be present in every context where adoption is used.
Final Recap
In summary, “adoption” can mean legally assuming the role of a parent or broadly accepting and implementing an idea. Key synonyms include assumption, acceptance, embrace, and integration—each with distinct nuances fitting different contexts. Practicing these terms in context is crucial for effective communication. Try crafting sentences using each synonym to understand their subtle differences, which will enhance your vocabulary and precision in language use.