Elective

/ɪˈlɛktɪv/ · adjective

Meaning

Of, or pertaining to voting or elections; involving a choice between options..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of, or pertaining to voting or elections; involving a choice between options.
2. Open to choice; freely chosen; (also, usually) unnecessary; minor.
3. (US health care system, technical) Scheduled and nonemergent (regardless of whether necessary or unnecessary and whether minor or serious).
4. Something that is an option or may be freely chosen, especially a course of study.

Example Sentences

1697, John Dryden, The Works of Virgil […] translated into English Verse, London: Jacob Tonson, dedicatory preface to the Marquess of Normanby, For his Conscience could not but whisper to the Arbitrary Monarch, that the Kings of Rome were at first Elective, and Govern’d not without a Senate:

1896, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, “The South African Question” in Speeches and Writings of M. K. Gandhi, Madras: G.A. Natesan, 3rd edition, 1922, p. 6, [The bill] says that no natives of countries (not of European origin) which have not hitherto possessed elective representative institutions […] shall be placed on the voters roll […]

Man thus endued with an elective voice, Must be supplied with objects of his choice.

[…] they rested their hopes of redress on the independent use of their elective franchise;

See the populace, millions upon millions, handsome, tall, muscular, both sexes, clothed in easy and dignified clothes―teaching, commanding, marrying, generating, equally electing and elective;

After accounting for all of my required courses, there is hardly any room in my schedule for any elective ones.

1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, London: T. Payne & Son, and T. Cadell, Volume 5, Book 9, Chapter 8, pp. 160-161, “You know not then,” said Cecilia, in a faint voice, “my inability to comply?” “Your ability, or inability, I presume are elective?” “Oh no!—my power is lost!—my fortune itself is gone!”

[…] his Lordship is deceived if he think any spontaneous action after once being checked in it, differs from an action voluntary and elective, for even the setting of a mans foot, in the posture for walking, and the action of ordinary eating was once deliberated of how and when it should be done, and though afterward it became easie & habitual so as to be done without fore-thought, yet that does not hinder but that the act is voluntary and proceedeth from election.

Synonyms for elective

Antonyms for elective

Related Words

Word Forms

• more elective
• most elective
• electives

Usage Notes

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