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View synonyms for elective

elective

[ih-lek-tiv]

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.

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

    elective attraction.



noun

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

elective

/ ɪˈlɛktɪv, ˌiːlɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

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

“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

noun

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

“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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Other Word Forms

  • electively adverb
  • electiveness noun
  • nonelective adjective
  • nonelectively adverb
  • nonelectiveness noun
  • preelective adjective
  • unelective adjective
  • electivity noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of elective1

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The inquiry also heard about the decision by the NHS to keep children out of the healthcare system unless essential and to pause elective procedures for children in March 2020.

Read more on BBC

Maxim Giacaman, 23, a medical student from Bethlehem, told the BBC he was unable to travel abroad for a key elective in his medical studies.

Read more on BBC

The Wye Valley NHS Trust has also raised concerns, with managing director Jane Ives telling a board meeting that 10,000 appointments or elective procedures would be affected there due to the knock-on effects.

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“The coming back, to me, is what’s so important and inspiring” — especially because finishing her education was an elective rather than a requirement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Push notifications will provide appointment reminders to patients to try to reduce the risk of no attendance - with around eight million missed appointments in elective care missed in 2023/24.

Read more on BBC

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electioneerelective mutism