elective

American  

[ih-lek-tiv] / ɪˈlɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. pertaining to the principle of electing to an office, position, etc.

2. chosen by election, as an official.

3. bestowed by or derived from election, as an office.

4. having the power or right of electing to office, as a body of persons.

5. open to choice; optional; not required.

   an elective subject in college; elective surgery.

   Synonyms:

   discretionary, voluntary

   Antonyms:

   necessary, obligatory

6. Chemistry. selecting for combination or action; tending to combine with certain substances in preference to others.

   elective attraction.

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noun

• electives
  plural

1. an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives.

elective British  

/ ɪˈlɛktɪv /

adjective

1. of or based on selection by vote

   elective procedure

2. selected by vote

   an elective official

3. having the power to elect

4. open to choice; optional

   an elective course of study

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noun

1. an optional course or hospital placement undertaken by a medical student

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• electiveness
  noun
• electivity
  noun
• nonelectiveness
  noun
• nonelective
  adjective
• preelective
  adjective
• unelective
  adjective
• electively
  adverb
• nonelectively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• electives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of elective

1520–30; < Medieval Latin ēlēctīvus, equivalent to Latin ēlēct ( us ) ( see elect) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

Something that's elective is optional — you can choose to do it, or not. An elective course in school is one you take because you want to rather than to fill a particular requirement, although you still get credit for it. You can take elective classes in high school or college. In fact, the word elective is sometimes used as a noun, to mean "optional class." Also, if someone has elective surgery, that means he’s getting an optional operation, like a nose job or a face-lift. In either case, nothing is required or compulsory — it's a free choice. The word comes from the Latin electivus, by way of eligere, "pick out or select," which is also the root of election.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elective electives

The Causeway site will be used for elective general surgery.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Samson Derham and his bunkmates at Camp Harlam typically pick rock-wall climbing or free swim as their Saturday elective activity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

It was her first run at elective office.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

And if the aorta is dilated a certain amount, patients often undergo an elective surgery to fix it.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

The only class that I was having a hard time with was my art elective.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Most students don’t need years to explore electives and declare a major.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

Enriching curriculum; for example, with more electives and career pathways.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2024

While some language courses will still be available for students as electives, the university made it clear the programs were on the chopping block.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023

Students complete the core requirements of the business program, including 1,000 hours of industry experience and classes specific to the major, as well as electives in other parts of WSU that focus on aging.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 24, 2023

With English out of the way, he was taking government and the electives of sociology, computer math, photography, and food science.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Related Words

• electoral