elective
bestowed by or derived from election, as an office.
having the power or right of electing to office, as a body of persons.
open to choice; optional; not required: an elective subject in college; elective surgery.
Chemistry. selecting for combination or action; tending to combine with certain substances in preference to others: elective attraction.
an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives.
Origin of elective
1Other words for elective
Opposites for elective
Other words from elective
- e·lec·tive·ly, adverb
- e·lec·tive·ness, noun
- non·e·lec·tive, adjective, noun
- non·e·lec·tive·ly, adverb
- non·e·lec·tive·ness, noun
- pre·e·lec·tive, adjective
- un·e·lec·tive, adjective
Words Nearby elective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use elective in a sentence
Ballad Health, whose 21 hospitals serve that region, temporarily stopped all elective surgeries and set up mobile morgues.
900,000 infected. Nearly 15,000 dead. How the coronavirus tore through D.C., Maryland and Virginia. | Rebecca Tan, Antonio Olivo, John D. Harden | February 5, 2021 | Washington PostFunding from Congress has provided some relief for hospital systems across the country, but many are losing money as a result of halting elective surgeries.
Clinical trials and elective procedures for other conditions have been put on hold.
COVID-19 vaccines could end the pandemic by eliminating severe cases | Kate Baggaley | January 29, 2021 | Popular-ScienceTypically, the most profitable services hospitals offer are elective procedures, such as hip replacements or knee surgeries.
Covid-19 could teach US hospitals some lessons, if they’re willing to listen | Annalisa Merelli | January 28, 2021 | QuartzYoungkin, 54, who in September retired as co-chief executive of the Washington private equity giant Carlyle Group, has never held elective office.
Former Carlyle executive Glenn Youngkin joins race for Virginia governor | Laura Vozzella | January 27, 2021 | Washington Post
Not hard to imagine what drives this number – money, the ever swelling lubricant of elective office.
He has since put in place penalties for hospitals and surgeons that perform elective cesareans.
Allah, Mom, and Baklava: Turkish President Uses Mothers and Kids as Political Pawns | Xanthe Ackerman | November 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTReally, sortition strikes at the tension at the heart of elective representative democracy.
Is It Time to Take a Chance on Random Representatives? | Michael Schulson | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the O.R. has actually seen a huge decrease in elective surgeries.
It is not elective, it is not fun, and it certainly is not funny.
From Britney to Bynes, Why Do We Love Watching Mentally Ill Celebs? | Molly Oswaks | October 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd of the world of to-day, be it remembered, elective democratic control covers only a part of the field.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockIf the wages are graded according to capacity, then the grading is done by the everlasting elective officials.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockSince the house would not make the legislative council elective, he proposed to abolish it altogether.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. | E. Farr and E. H. NolanAt a later date they were nominated by the Wardens, though in earlier times probably elective.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds | Francis Aiden HibbertWell, now, seigneur Councilman, august elective magistrate of the illustrious Commune of Laon!
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne Sue
British Dictionary definitions for elective
/ (ɪˈlɛktɪv) /
of or based on selection by vote: elective procedure
selected by vote: an elective official
having the power to elect
open to choice; optional: an elective course of study
an optional course or hospital placement undertaken by a medical student
Derived forms of elective
- electively, adverb
- electivity (ˌiːlɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ) or electiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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