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 ) ( elect ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

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

Washington state does not provide an elective share for the surviving spouse, so married couples automatically retain their half of the community property.

From MarketWatch

At 19, I had “top surgery”—a euphemism for an elective double mastectomy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Finally, some states have an elective share — a minimum amount that a spouse may inherit, in the absence of prenup or postnup.

From MarketWatch

The busiest time for elective surgeries in the winter shifts slightly by region.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• electoral