ELECTIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does elective mean? 

• ELECTIVE (noun)
  The noun ELECTIVE has 1 sense:

1. a course that the student can select from among alternatives

  Familiarity information: ELECTIVE used as a noun is very rare.

• ELECTIVE (adjective)
  The adjective ELECTIVE has 2 senses:

1. subject to popular election

2. not compulsory

  Familiarity information: ELECTIVE used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ELECTIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A course that the student can select from among alternatives

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

elective; elective course

Hypernyms ("elective" is a kind of...):

class; course; course of instruction; course of study (education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings)

• ELECTIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Subject to popular election

Synonyms:

elected; elective

Context example:

elective official

Similar:

electoral (relating to or composed of electors)

nonappointive (filled by popular election rather than by appointment)

Antonym:

appointive (subject to appointment)

Derivation:

elect (select by a vote for an office or membership)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not compulsory

Synonyms:

elective; facultative

Context example:

an elective course of study

Similar:

optional (possible but not necessary; left to personal choice)

Derivation:

elect (choose)

 Context examples 

A measurement of the total number of instances in which there has been a spontaneous termination of pregnancy (miscarriage) or elective termination of pregnancy.

(Number of Abortions, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Elective procedures can be deferred without increased risk of compromised outcome.

(Elective Surgical Procedure, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

I was addressing elective surgery where the need to act was not too great.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I do not care to think of it; but it was elective, for the threatened blow did not descend.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A facility which primary purpose is to provide elective surgical care, in which the patient is admitted to and discharged from within the same working day and is not permitted to stay overnight, and which is not part of a hospital.

(Ambulatory Surgical Center, NCI Thesaurus)

A publicly or privately owned institution which is primarily established and licensed for the purpose of providing elective surgical treatment of outpatients whose recovery, under normal and routine circumstances, will not require inpatient care.

(Ambulatory Surgical Facility, NCI Thesaurus)

I would not recommend having elective surgery like a face-lift or elective surgery on the eyes.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)