opportunistic
[ op-er-too-nis-tik, -tyoo- ]
/ ˌɒp ər tuˈnɪs tɪk, -tyu- /
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.
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Origin of opportunistic
First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic
OTHER WORDS FROM opportunistic
op·por·tun·is·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·op·por·tun·is·tic, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH opportunistic
opportune, opportunisticWords nearby opportunistic
opponency, opponent, opportune, opportunism, opportunist, opportunistic, opportunistic infection, opportunity, opportunity cost, opportunity shop, opposable
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for opportunistic
British Dictionary definitions for opportunistic
opportunistic
/ (ˌɒpətjʊˈnɪstɪk) /
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 forms of opportunistic
opportunistically, adverbCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical 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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.