adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:/əˈdæp.tɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AH0 D AE1 P T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it issued a final rule allowing what’s called “adaptive driving beam headlights” on new vehicles. It will go into effect when published in the Federal Register in the next few days.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Of a trait: that helps an organism to function well in its environment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: evolutionary theory
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of a trait: that helps a person to function well in society.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: human-sciences, psychology, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
having a capacity for adaptation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the adaptive coloring of a chameleon
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: adaptative
Antonyms: maladaptive
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Italic *aptos Latin aptus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin apiō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus ▲ Latin -ō Latin -tō Latin aptō Latin adaptōder. Middle English *adapten English adapt Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English adaptive From adapt + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
38 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
адапты́ўны
(adaptýwny)
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Bulgarian:
адапти́вен
(adaptíven)
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Catalan:
adaptatiu
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Dutch:
adaptief
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Finnish:
mukautuva
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Finnish:
sopeutuva
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Finnish:
joustava
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
French:
adaptatif
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
German:
adaptiv
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Indonesian:
adaptif
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Italian:
adattivo
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Kazakh:
бейімделген
(beiımdelgen)
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Malay:
mudah suai
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Persian:
سازگار
(sâzgâr)
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Polish:
adaptacyjny
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Polish:
adaptatywny
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Portuguese:
adaptativo
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Russian:
адапти́вный
(adaptívnyj)
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Serbo-Croatian:
prilagodljiv
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Serbo-Croatian:
adaptabilan
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Spanish:
adaptativo
— of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable
Bulgarian:
адапти́вен
(adaptíven)
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Finnish:
mukautuva
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Finnish:
sopeutuva
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Finnish:
joustava
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
French:
adaptable
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Polish:
adaptacyjny
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Polish:
adaptatywny
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Serbo-Croatian:
prilagodljiv
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Serbo-Croatian:
adaptabilan
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Spanish:
adaptable
— capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change
Bulgarian:
адапти́вен
(adaptíven)
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
Finnish:
sopeutuva
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
Finnish:
adaptiivinen
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
French:
adaptatif
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
Serbo-Croatian:
prilagodljiv
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
Serbo-Croatian:
adaptabilan
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
Spanish:
adaptativo
— of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in society
