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elective - 6 dictionary results
Electives Network
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e⋅lec⋅tive

  [i-lek-tiv]
Use elective in a Sentence
–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.
6. Chemistry. selecting for combination or action; tending to combine with certain substances in preference to others: elective attraction.
–noun
7. an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives.
Origin:
1520–30; < ML ēlēctīvus, equiv. to L ēlēct(us) (see elect ) + -īvus -ive

Related forms:
e⋅lec⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
e⋅lec⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
5. voluntary, discretionary.

Antonyms:
5. required, obligatory, necessary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To elective
e·lec·tive   (ĭ-lěk'tĭv)   
adj.  
  1. Of or relating to a selection by vote.
  2. Filled or obtained by election: elective office.
  3. Having the power or authority to elect; electoral.
  4. Permitting or involving a choice; optional: elective surgery.
n.  An optional academic course or subject.
e·lec'tive·ly adv., e·lec'tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Elective

E*lect"ive\, a. [Cf. F. ['e]lectif.]

1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.

2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral.

The independent use of their elective franchise. --Bancroft.

3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office.

Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. --Dryden.

Elective affinity or attraction (Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.

Elective

E*lect"ive\, n. In an American college, an optional study or course of study. [Colloq.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: elec·tive
Function: adjective
1 a : chosen by popular election elective official> b : of or relating to election c : based on the right or principle of election elective office>
2 a : permitting a choice —compare COMPULSORY b : available as a choice <elective insurance coverage> c : beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival <elective surgery>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: elec·tive
Pronunciation: i-'lek-tiv
Function: adjective
: beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival electiveappendectomy>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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