Definitions in adoption and the language used to describe them differ depending on the role of the person in the adoption triad (birth parent, adoptive parent, or adopted person) and their perspective. The use of language in adoption is complex and sensitive. What is considered "positive" by one party may seem offensive to another. In this section find resources linking to definitions and the use of language in adoption.

Glossary
Includes commonly held definitions for terms that can be found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.

Speaking Positively: Using Respectful Adoption Language 
Johnston (2012)
The Barker Adoption Foundation
Provides a discussion of respectful adoption language.