adaptive

adjective

adap·​tive ə-ˈdap-tiv 

a-

1

: providing, contributing to, or marked by adaptation : arising as a result of adaptation

… left ventricular hypertrophy should not be considered solely an adaptive response to an increased ventricular workload.

—Edward D. Frohlich et al.

An effort to identify the healthy adaptive need that is being met by a patient's behavior can result in increased empathy for the patient.

—Thomas O. Brackett

specifically : of, relating to, or being a heritable trait that serves a specific function and improves an organism's fitness or survival

Webbed feet is an adaptive trait in aquatic animals.

2

a

: designed or intended to assist disabled persons : assistive

adaptive devices

b

: engaged in by disabled persons with the aid of equipment or techniques adapted for a disability

adaptive skiing

c

: participating in a sport with the aid of equipment or techniques adapted for disability

an adaptive skier

adaptively adverb

adaptiveness noun

adaptivity

ˌa-ˌdap-ˈti-və-tē 

noun

Examples of adaptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Deyeek Tear Away Pants Snap-open Sides are another option for adaptive pants, featuring Velcro fasteners on the sides. —Mary Beth Skylis, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2026

Cerasuolo said she was inspired to teach adaptive PE after watching her cousin, who has a disability and struggled in school, shine while playing sports. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026

Colossal began working on the blueback de-extinction project two years ago, Lamm said, at the urging of one of the company's scientific advisory board members, Michael Hofreiter, a professor of evolutionary adaptive genomics at the University of Potsdam in Germany. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026

His company runs a network of after school learning centers where an adaptive AI tutoring system spots those cracks and customizes lessons in real time based on how each student responds. —Time Contributors, Time, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

adapt + -ive

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing adaptive

• adaptive cruise control
• adaptive optics
• adaptive radiation
• counter-adaptive

Rhymes for adaptive

• captive
• maladaptive

Medical Definition

adaptive

adjective

adap·​tive ə-ˈdap-tiv 

1

: capable of, suited to, or contributing to adaptation

… adaptive traits that enhance survival and diversification of species …

—Science News

2

a

: used to assist a person with a disability in performing a certain task or activity : assistive

Adaptive equipment might include Braille keyboards, voice synthesizers and adjustable-height computer tables.

—Stuart Gordon, The Modesto (California) Bee

b

: engaged in by disabled persons with the aid of equipment or techniques adapted for a disability

It is called wheelchair basketball, an adaptive sport for disabled people …

—James Nix, The Independent Tribune (Concord, North Carolina)

c

: participating in a sport with the aid of equipment or techniques adapted for a disability

… adaptive skiers cranking down the mountain in their ski chairs …

—Moira McCarthy, The Boston Herald

adaptively adverb

adaptiveness noun