Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who legally takes another person's child into their own family to raise as their own child: An adopter is someone who formally and legally becomes the parent of a child who is not their biological offspring.
   • A person who chooses to start using or supporting something new: In a broader sense, an adopter can refer to someone who embraces and begins to use a new idea, technology, product, or practice.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Legal/Familial Context):

  • The agency carefully screened the prospective adopters to ensure a safe home for the child.
  • After the adoption was finalized, the adopter felt immense joy becoming a parent.

• Noun (General Acceptance Context):

  • She was an early adopter of the new software, testing it before its public release.
  • The company is looking for adopters of its innovative recycling program.

Advanced Usage

• "Early adopter": A person who starts using a new product, technology, or idea as soon as it becomes available.
  • Early adopters often provide valuable feedback to developers.

Variants and Related Words

• Adopt (verb): To take a child into one's family legally as one's own; to choose to take up or follow an idea, method, or course of action.

  • They decided to adopt a child from overseas.
  • The committee voted to adopt the new policy.

• Adoption (noun): The act or process of adopting a child; the act of choosing to take something up or follow it.

  • The adoption process can be lengthy.
  • The rapid adoption of mobile phones changed communication.

• Adoptive (adjective): Related through adoption (e.g., an adoptive parent, an adoptive family).

  • He has a very close relationship with his adoptive mother.

Synonyms

• Foster parent (Note: This can be a temporary or pre-adoption caregiver, not always a permanent legal parent like an adopter).
• Guardian (A broader legal term for someone responsible for a child's care).
• Embracer (For the general sense of accepting something new).
• User or Implementer (For the general sense of using a new product or idea).

Related Phrases

• Prospective adopter: A person who is in the process of applying or being considered to adopt a child.

  • The workshop is designed for prospective adopters.

• Late adopter: A person who is slow to accept and start using new innovations.

  • My grandfather is a late adopter; he just got his first smartphone.

Noun

1. a person who adopts a child of other parents as his or her own child