opportunistic
Americanadjective
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adhering to a policy of opportunism; practicing opportunism.
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Pathology.
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(of a microorganism) causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person's immune system is impaired.
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(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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adjective
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of or characterized by opportunism
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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
Etymology
Origin of opportunistic
First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Grocery Outlet’s opportunistic sourcing model has cultivated a devoted fan base of TikTok bargain hunters.
From Los Angeles Times
This has resulted in some traders going for very quick opportunistic plays, but has left the market with “no real conviction.”
From MarketWatch
In this regard, we might take note of what could be called the Labs’ opportunistic advantages.
In recent years, global central banks in advanced economies opted for an opportunistic slow squeeze of post-pandemic inflation.
From MarketWatch
You will be blitzed with opportunistic marketing messages from the financial industry.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
