Adoption Terminology

This list is not an effort to be politically correct, but an effort to add sensitivity to the already emotionally-charged process of adoption for all members of the adoption triangle.

Correct/Accurate Adoption Terminology*
Incorrect	Accurate
Real Parent/natural parent	Birthparent
Real mom/real dad	Birthmother/birthfather
Adoptive parent/adoptive mom/adoptive dad	Parents/mom/dad
Adopted child/own child	My child
Giving away/relinquishing/putting up for adoption/put up	Making an adoption plan
Keeping the baby	Deciding to parent
Foster child	Child in foster care
Adoptable/eligible/available	Waiting or child in need of a family
Child of their own (very offensive)	Birth child
Foreign adoption	International adoption
Is adopted	WAS adopted
Adopted OUT	Made an adoption plan
Real (blood) relative	Birth relative
Raped	Sexually assaulted or sexually abused
Beaten/hit	Physically abused
Adopted OUT OF the foster care system	Adopted through or from the foster care system
Normal child	Typically developing child

*Adapted from National Council for Adoption