Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for elective on Thesaurus.com pertaining to the principle of electing to an office, position, etc. chosen by election , as an official. 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. Show More
an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives. Show More
Origin of elective 1520–30; <
Medieval Latin ēlēctīvus, equivalent to
Latin ēlēct(us ) (see
elect ) +
-īvus -ive Related forms 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 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for elective Contemporary Examples of elective Not hard to imagine what drives this number – money, the ever swelling lubricant of elective office.
Really, sortition strikes at the tension at the heart of elective representative democracy.
But 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.
But this is really my first real role in a film where I got to play gay that was not elective .
Historical Examples of elective On the same ground might the authority of all elective political and other posts be questioned.
An elective course in the history of American education is highly desirable.
Probably no two colleges administer the elective system in the same way.
Office Holding: Women are not eligible to any elective office.
Office Holding: Women are not eligible for any elective office.
British Dictionary definitions for elective 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 Show More
an optional course or hospital placement undertaken by a medical student Show More
Derived Forms 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
Word Origin and History for elective adj. early 15c., from Late Latin electivus , from electus , past participle of eligere (see election ). In reference to school subjects studied at the student's choice, first recorded 1847. As a noun, from 1701.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
