elective

1 of 2

adjective

elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv 

1

a

: chosen or filled by popular election

an elective official

b

: of or relating to election

c

: based on the right or principle of election

the presidency is an elective office

2

a

: permitting a choice : optional

an elective course in school

b(1)

: relating to, being, or involving a nonemergency medical procedure and especially surgery that is planned in advance and is not essential to the survival of the patient

elective hip surgery

elective tonsillectomy

elective cosmetic procedures

(2)

: offering or specializing in nonemergency medical procedures and especially surgery

an elective surgical unit

(3)

: relating to or being a patient receiving a nonemergency medical procedure

elective orthopedic patients

3

a

: tending to operate on one substance rather than another

elective absorption

b

: favorably inclined to one more than to another : sympathetic

an elective affinity

electively adverb

electiveness noun

elective

2 of 2

noun

: an elective course or subject

Synonyms

Adjective

• discretionary
• optional
• voluntary

Examples of elective in a Sentence

Adjective

He's never held an elective office.

Plastic surgery is elective surgery.

She took three elective courses last term.

Noun

She's taking several electives this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Fertility treatments, including elective egg and sperm freezing, are becoming more common in workplace benefits packages, and are now offered by 64% of large employers with more than 500 employees, the study found. —Brit Morse, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024

It's most commonly performed as an elective surgery for gallstones that cause symptoms, namely attacks of severe belly pain in the upper right or middle portion of the belly, associated with nausea or vomiting. —Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024

Noun

That streak snapped a 30-year elective drought that included nine straight Republican wins. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Middle schoolers would get more electives like urban farming and coding and game design, for example, according to the STEM program executive summary. —Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

elective

1 of 2 adjective

elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: chosen by election

an elective official

2

: held by a person who is elected

the presidency is an elective office

3

: followed or taken by choice : not required

an elective subject in school

electively adverb

electiveness noun

elective

2 of 2 noun

: an elective course or subject in school

Medical Definition

elective

adjective

elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: relating to, being, or involving a nonemergency medical procedure and especially surgery that is planned in advance and is not essential to the survival of the patient

elective knee surgery

elective tonsillectomy

2

: offering or specializing in nonemergency medical procedures and especially surgery

elective surgical units

3

: relating to or being a patient receiving a nonemergency medical procedure

an elective orthopedic patient

Legal Definition

elective

adjective

elec·​tive

1

a

: chosen by popular election

an elective official

b

: of or relating to election

c

: based on the right or principle of election

the presidency is an 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