opportunistic

[op-er-too-nis-tik, -tyoo-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR opportunistic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

adhering to a policy of opportunism; practicing opportunism.

Pathology.

(of a microorganism) causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person's immune system is impaired.
(of a disease or infection) caused by such an organism: Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic disease that often strikes victims of AIDS.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of opportunistic

First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic

Related formsop·por·tun·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·op·por·tun·is·tic, adjective

Can be confusedopportune opportunistic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for opportunistic

In Colombia, it was perceived more like a coincidence or perhaps even an opportunistic play by the FARC.
Venezuela Says Goodbye to Its Lil Friend, While the Rest of the Continent Cheers|Catalina Lobo-Guererro|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone with the intellect of a ping-pong ball should understand how opportunistic that whistleblowing looks.
An Ivy League Frat Boy’s Shallow Repentance|Stefan Beck|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Opportunistic, self-centered—no one could actually write a worse TV mom.
TV’s Best and Worst Moms: ‘Veep,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ and More|The Daily Beast Video|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These Westerners bring (relative) wads of cash and influence, and are gladly met by opportunistic African leaders.
Why Africa’s Turning Anti-Gay|Jay Michaelson|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“His offending footprint was vast, predatory, and opportunistic,” Spindler said.
Jimmy Savile Report: BBC Presenter Sexually Abused More Than 200 Minors|Peter Jukes|January 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The times were ripe for the opportunistic unionism of Gompers and the trade unionists.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman
The opportunistic method is strong just where the systematic is weak.
The Psychology of Arithmetic|Edward L. Thorndike
In spite of the high regard in which he was held, this opportunistic proposal found little favor.
An American Religious Movement|Winfred Ernest Douglas
We can find some opportunistic expedient, but not a solution of the problem.
The Positive School of Criminology|Enrico Ferri
Individual liberty, hard fought for under the many signs of literacy, appears to be conformistic at best, and opportunistic.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for opportunistic

opportunistic

adjective

of or characterized by opportunism

med (of an infection) caused by any microorganism that is harmless to a healthy person but debilitates a person whose immune system has been weakened by disease or drug treatment

Derived Formsopportunistically, adverb

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 opportunistic

opportunistic

adj.

1889, see opportunist + -ic. Related: Opportunistically.

Medicine definitions for opportunistic

opportunistic

[ŏp′ər-tōō-nĭs′tĭk]

adj.

Of or relating to an organism capable of causing disease only in a host whose resistance is lowered.

Of or relating to a disease caused by an opportunistic organism.