elective

[ ih-lek-tiv ]

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.

   Synonyms: discretionary, voluntary

   Antonyms: necessary, obligatory

6. Chemistry. selecting for combination or action; tending to combine with certain substances in preference to others:

   elective attraction.

noun

1. an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives.

elective

/ ɪˈlɛktɪv; ˌiːlɛkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or based on selection by vote

   elective procedure

2. selected by vote

   an elective official

3. having the power to elect
4. open to choice; optional

   an elective course of study

noun

1. an optional course or hospital placement undertaken by a medical student

Derived Forms

• electivity, noun
• eˈlectively, adverb

Other Words From

• e·lective·ly adverb
• e·lective·ness noun
• none·lective adjective noun
• none·lective·ly adverb
• none·lective·ness noun
• pree·lective adjective
• une·lective adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of elective¹

1520–30; < Medieval Latin ēlēctīvus, equivalent to Latin ēlēct ( us ) ( elect ) + -īvus -ive

Example Sentences

Ballad Health, whose 21 hospitals serve that region, temporarily stopped all elective surgeries and set up mobile morgues.

From Washington Post

Funding from Congress has provided some relief for hospital systems across the country, but many are losing money as a result of halting elective surgeries.

From Vox

Clinical trials and elective procedures for other conditions have been put on hold.

From Popular-Science

Typically, the most profitable services hospitals offer are elective procedures, such as hip replacements or knee surgeries.

From Quartz

Youngkin, 54, who in September retired as co-chief executive of the Washington private equity giant Carlyle Group, has never held elective office.

From Washington Post

Not hard to imagine what drives this number – money, the ever swelling lubricant of elective office.

From The Daily Beast

He has since put in place penalties for hospitals and surgeons that perform elective cesareans.

From The Daily Beast

Really, sortition strikes at the tension at the heart of elective representative democracy.

From The Daily Beast

But the O.R. has actually seen a huge decrease in elective surgeries.

From The Daily Beast

It is not elective, it is not fun, and it certainly is not funny.

From The Daily Beast

And of the world of to-day, be it remembered, elective democratic control covers only a part of the field.

From Project Gutenberg

If the wages are graded according to capacity, then the grading is done by the everlasting elective officials.

From Project Gutenberg

Since the house would not make the legislative council elective, he proposed to abolish it altogether.

From Project Gutenberg

At a later date they were nominated by the Wardens, though in earlier times probably elective.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, now, seigneur Councilman, august elective magistrate of the illustrious Commune of Laon!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• electoral