# adaptive

/əˈdæptɪv/ (US) · /ɐdˈæptɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adaptive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. flexible and changing

adjective · CEFR B2

able to change or be changed to suit different conditions.

For teachers: capable of undergoing modification or adjustment to remain effective in varying circumstances.

- The company uses adaptive software that changes based on how the customer uses it.
- The organization implemented an adaptive management strategy, allowing project leaders to pivot their tactics as new market data became available.

### 2. helpful for survival

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a behavior or physical trait that helps a living thing survive in its environment.

For teachers: relating to a trait or behavior that increases an organism's fitness or ability to function within a specific ecological niche.

- The white fur of a polar bear is an adaptive trait for living in the snow.
- Biologists argue that certain social behaviors in primates are adaptive, as they significantly increase the survival rate of offspring within the troop.

### 3. socially functional

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describes a person's ability to handle the demands of daily life and get along with others.

For teachers: pertaining to behaviors that allow an individual to meet the standards of personal independence and social responsibility expected for their age and cultural group.

- The therapist helped the patient develop more adaptive ways to deal with stress.
- The study focused on adaptive coping mechanisms, contrasting them with avoidant behaviors that often exacerbate long-term psychological distress.

## Examples

- The company needs an adaptive strategy to survive in this changing market.
- Successful species often have adaptive traits that allow them to thrive in various climates.
- Psychologists view resilience as an adaptive response to trauma, where the individual develops new coping mechanisms to maintain psychological stability despite significant external stressors.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.