English Lexicon

Adoptive brother

/əˈdɒp.tɪv ˈbrʌð.ər/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A male sibling who is related through the adoption of one or both by the same parents, rather than by shared biological ancestry.

    "He grew up alongside his adoptive brother, sharing a bedroom and countless childhood memories."
  2. 2

    A boy or man adopted into a family where one already has biological sons, creating a brotherly bond.

    "When they welcomed the new child into their home, he officially became an adoptive brother to the existing kids."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The term combines 'adoptive', derived from the Latin 'adoptivus' (relating to adoption, from 'adoptare' meaning to choose for oneself), with 'brother', stemming from Old English 'brōthor', of Germanic origin. Together, the compound phrase emerged in modern English legal and familial discourse to denote non-biological fraternal relationships established through formal adoption processes.

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