adopted

The term "adopted" generally pertains to the act of legally taking another person’s child into one’s family and assuming parental responsibility for the child's care and upbringing. Adoption is a formal process that grants the adoptive parents legal rights and responsibilities, establishing a permanent family bond similar to that of biological parents and children. Laws governing adoption vary by jurisdiction but typically include requirements such as background checks, home assessments, and consent from biological parents or guardians.

Beyond its legal context, "adopted" can also refer to the acceptance or endorsement of ideas, practices, or policies. For example, a government may adopt a new law, or an organization might adopt a new strategy. In this sense, adoption signifies the act of formally embracing and implementing something new within a group or system.

In a broader cultural or societal context, "adopted" indicates the acceptance or integration of customs, traditions, or technologies from external sources. For instance, a community may adopt environmentally sustainable practices or a language, which involves incorporating and normalizing those elements into daily life.

The concept of adoption also extends to animals, where it refers to the process of taking ownership of a pet from a shelter or rescue organization, providing a home and ongoing care.

Overall, "adopted" encompasses various forms of acceptance, integration, and formal ownership, whether relating to people, ideas, practices, or animals. The term highlights a voluntary and often transformative decision to incorporate another entity into one's life or system.