adaptation

adaptation — noun

1. the way a person, thing, or system is altered so it works well in a new situatio

1.nounC1
Definition

the way a person, thing, or system is altered so it works well in a new situation or environment.

Example

The school's quick adaptation to online classes kept lessons running smoothly.

adaptation to + new situation

Maria admired her grandmother's adaptation to life in a small city flat.

adaptation to + life in place

Common collocations
  • adaptation to change
  • adaptation to new conditions
  • cultural adaptation
  • successful adaptation
Synonyms
  • adjustment

    often smaller or quicker than a full adaptation

  • modification

    focuses on a deliberate change to a thing or plan

  • change

    very broad and less specific about becoming suitable

Antonyms
  • rigidity

    lack of willingness or ability to change

  • resistance

    active refusal to change with new conditions

Grammar Patterns

adaptation to + noun

adaptation of + noun + for + noun

Usage Note

Often followed by to for the new conditions: adaptation to heat, adaptation to city life. Distinguish from sense 2, which is specifically about living things and survival.

Common Mistakes

Her adaptation with village life was slow.
Her adaptation to village life was slow.
use 'adaptation to' for the new situation someone is getting used to.

2. a feature or gradual change in a plant or animal that helps it live and reproduc

2.nounC2
Definition

a feature or gradual change in a plant or animal that helps it live and reproduce in its surroundings.

Example

A camel's hump is an adaptation that helps it survive long dry seasons.

adaptation that helps survival

Scientists study thick fur as an adaptation to Arctic winters.

adaptation to + environment

Common collocations
  • physical adaptation
  • behavioral adaptation
  • adaptation for survival
  • useful adaptation
Synonyms
  • trait

    broader; any characteristic, not necessarily one that aids survival

  • feature

    general word; less scientific than 'adaptation'

  • evolutionary change

    emphasizes long-term development across generations

Grammar Patterns

an adaptation for + noun/-ing

adaptation to + environment

Usage Note

Common in biology. It usually names a body part, colour, habit, or ability that improves survival. Distinguish from sense 1, which can describe any kind of practical adjustment.

Common Mistakes

A camel's hump is a good adjustment for the desert.
A camel's hump is a useful adaptation for desert life.
in biology, 'adaptation' is the usual word for a survival feature.

3. a new film, play, television show, or book version built from an earlier story o

3.nounC1
Definition

a new film, play, television show, or book version built from an earlier story or other work.

Example

The stage adaptation of the novel opened in Taipei last Friday.

adaptation of + original work

Mina's children loved the animated adaptation of the old folk tale.

animated adaptation of + tale

Common collocations
  • film adaptation
  • stage adaptation
  • television adaptation
  • adaptation of a novel
Synonyms
  • version

    broader; can be any form of the same work, not necessarily recast for a new medium

  • remake

    usually used for a new film or show, not for books or plays

  • retelling

    stresses telling the story again, often with some changes

Antonyms
  • original

    the first work that the later version is based on

Grammar Patterns

an adaptation of + original work

Usage Note

Usually followed by of: an adaptation of a novel, comic, or true story. The new work often changes scenes, characters, or length to suit a different medium.

Common Mistakes

The movie is an adaptation from the novel.
The movie is an adaptation of the novel.
use 'adaptation of' for the original work.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, adaptation usually suggests becoming suitable for new conditions over time. Adjustment often sounds smaller or quicker, such as an adjustment to your chair or your daily schedule. Modification focuses on an intentional change made to a thing, plan, or machine. Change is the broad everyday word and does not by itself show that the result fits the new situation better. Accommodation can mean adapting to other people's needs or demands, and it is more formal in this meaning. A family's adaptation to life in Seoul may take months, while moving dinner to seven o'clock is just an adjustment. Rewriting a school rule for online classes is a modification within that larger adaptation.

adjustment ↗modification ↗change ↗accommodation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • process of adaptation
  • adaptation strategy
  • adaptation process

Phrases

  • adaptation to change
  • adaptation for survival
  • a film adaptation of

Prepositions

  • adaptation to
  • adaptation of
  • adaptation for

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Adaptation comes from the verb adapt, which goes back to Latin adaptare, meaning to fit or adjust something for a purpose. English first used adaptation for the act of adjusting something, and later extended it to biology and to works such as films or plays made from earlier stories.