opportunistic

[ op-er-too-nis-tik, -tyoo- ]

adjective

1. adhering to a policy of opportunism; practicing opportunism.
2. Pathology.
   1. (of a microorganism) causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person's immune system is impaired.
   2. (of a disease or infection) caused by such an organism:

      Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic disease that often strikes victims of AIDS.

opportunistic

/ ˌɒpətjʊˈnɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or characterized by opportunism
2. med (of an infection) caused by any microorganism that is harmless to a healthy person but debilitates a person whose immune system has been weakened by disease or drug treatment

Derived Forms

• ˌopportuˈnistically, adverb

Other Words From

• oppor·tun·isti·cal·ly adverb
• unop·por·tun·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opportunistic¹

First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic

Example Sentences

It was an inauspicious start, and after an opportunistic campaign by Republicans to get him onto ballots, West ended up as an option for voters in 12 states.

From Washington Post

This opportunistic capability, when communications are less predictable, is what’s being tested in Lapland.

From Quanta Magazine

They have a well-rounded and opportunistic style of play that has kept them dangerous throughout the playoffs.

From FiveThirtyEight

You know it’s very opportunistic how I’m saying it, but all these brands saw the same thing and came to the same conclusion.

From Fortune

The choice is between an opportunistic incumbent and a tin-eared challenger.

From No Straight News

In Colombia, it was perceived more like a coincidence or perhaps even an opportunistic play by the FARC.

From The Daily Beast

Anyone with the intellect of a ping-pong ball should understand how opportunistic that whistleblowing looks.

From The Daily Beast

Opportunistic, self-centered—no one could actually write a worse TV mom.

From The Daily Beast

These Westerners bring (relative) wads of cash and influence, and are gladly met by opportunistic African leaders.

From The Daily Beast

The Republican complaints of two months ago were purely opportunistic.

From The Daily Beast

The movement was essentially opportunistic and displayed no particular class feeling and no revolutionary tendencies.

From Project Gutenberg

The times were ripe for the opportunistic unionism of Gompers and the trade unionists.

From Project Gutenberg

The opportunistic method is strong just where the systematic is weak.

From Project Gutenberg

In spite of the high regard in which he was held, this opportunistic proposal found little favor.

From Project Gutenberg

The "State Socialist" and Reform attitude towards political democracy is indeed essentially opportunistic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cosmopolitan
• hardened
• practical
• selfish
• urbane