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

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

elective British  

/ 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

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

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

The nature program, once a full day outdoors, shrank to a 45-minute elective after some parents complained that their children were bored.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

"We've had no problem covering the rotas and I'm confident we'll be able to provide safe care and the majority of our elective care during the strike as well."

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Isern has been teaching the class as an elective for six years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

One of the greatest plays of our time, Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia,” confronts Goethe’s “Elective Affinities” with our own elective affinities.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

My elective is actually called Industrial Arts, and of course it has nothing to do with shopping.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

Related Words

• electoral