adaptsiooni

Adaptsioon, commonly rendered in English as adaptation, is the process by which an organism, idea, or system becomes better suited to its environment or task. The Estonian noun adaptsioon (genitive adaptsiooni) traces to Latin adaptare and is used across science, culture, and technology to describe change that increases usefulness or fitness.

In biology, adaptation usually refers to evolutionary changes shaped by natural selection, though developmental plasticity—temporary adjustments during an organism's lifetime—also contributes. Genetic adaptations alter morphology, physiology, or behavior; examples include the beaks of Darwin's finches or camouflage in color patterns.

In culture and media, an adaptation is a work reinterpreted for another medium or audience, such as a novel adapted into a film or a play into a television series. The process balances fidelity to source material with the constraints and opportunities of the new medium.

In technology and design, adaptive systems adjust to user needs or changing contexts, for example responsive software interfaces, assistive technologies, and product localization for different markets.

In climate and policy, adaptation refers to planned responses to reduce vulnerabilities to climate change, including infrastructure upgrades, risk management, and community resilience programs. Across domains, adaptsiooni involves evaluating context, trade-offs, and outcomes to improve alignment with goals and environments.