opportunistic

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

adjective

1. adhering to a policy of opportunism; practicing opportunism.

2. Pathology.

   1. (of a microorganism) causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person's immune system is impaired.

   2. (of a disease or infection) caused by such an organism.

      Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic disease that often strikes victims of AIDS.

opportunistic

/ ˌɒpətjʊˈnɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or characterized by opportunism

2. 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

Other Word Forms

• opportunistically adverb
• unopportunistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opportunistic¹

First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic

Example Sentences

In addition, the portfolio manager can opportunistically use mutual fund cash flows to rebalance positions, which may help further reduce tracking error relative to a mutual fund.

Read more on Barron's

The new bomber would decrease the odds of such opportunistic aggression.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They were coupling historic starting pitching with opportunistic offense and just enough production out of the bullpen.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The Chinese Intelligence Services are interested in acquiring information from a number of sources, including policymakers, government staff and democratic institutions and are able to act opportunistically to gather all information they can."

Read more on BBC

In many cases, the thefts have been opportunistic: Residents have left their keys in the car with the engine on while they run back into the house.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cosmopolitan 
• hardened 
• practical 
• selfish 
• urbane