Hi, I myself was not adopted, but I did have a family member who I found out was. I’m more looking for an answer on terminology. The family in question is my cousin, and he was adopted by my blood aunt, so where I am going with this is the term “blood relative” and I’d like to be educated on what everyone thinks. He had a daughter, and I believe she does not know that her father was adopted, that is I don’t think anyone told her because she mentioned to me one day that she told someone that we were blood relatives when asked about who I was and how she knows me (we do not share the same last name). My understanding of “blood relative” is anyone who had biological ancestral connection to you (i.e parents, grandparents, etc) though I’ve read in other adoption forums that adoptees refer to their adopted children as “blood relatives” though they are adopted.

If anyone would be so kind as to help me understand this terminology further it would be much appreciated! Thank you! Sorry to make this post a bit long.