having an ability to change to suit changing conditions: We teach our clients to run projects in an adaptive manner. Effective leaders need to be highly adaptive.
Adaptable people can possess elastic-like energy, a willingness to bend and break habits, to challenge themselves when their circumstances change. They tend to face problems, pivot among distractions, and politely proceed forward. Adaptable people are prone to think ahead and consistently focus on improvement.
For something to be described as adaptable it must be capable of changing to match new surroundings or conditions. It could also be able to change for new purposes. Adaptive, on the other hand, is used to describe things that are made specifically to aide persons with disabilities