as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
a plastic surgeon who mainly does face-lifting and other kinds of elective surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refresher
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in option
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elective
Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
Dear Eric: My husband will be having elective surgery soon.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2024
Jenelyn Russo, Orange County Register, 30 July 2024
Basically, those are college prep courses in history/social science, English, math, a foreign language, a laboratory science, visual and performing arts, and a college preparatory elective.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elective 
Adjective
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
Dear Eric: My husband will be having elective surgery soon.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2024
Noun
For those looking to pursue a veterinary medicine path, biology electives can be paired with the degree plan.
—Jenelyn Russo, Orange County Register, 30 July 2024
Basically, those are college prep courses in history/social science, English, math, a foreign language, a laboratory science, visual and performing arts, and a college preparatory elective.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elective
Adjective
-
After a half hour, I was called for my optional seshin, a full-body scrub delivered by an ajumma wearing the standard jjimjilbang uniform of black lace bra and underwear and wielding her exfoliating mitt like a weapon.Peggy Orenstein, AFAR Media, 6 Jan. 2025
-
Also available is an optional, more comfortable Kevlar seat and a handy bike stand that is perfect for storing the bike or for occasional maintenance.New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
For a brief refresher, the internet has long pitted Bieber and Gomez against one another due to their relationships with Bieber's husband and Gomez's ex, Justin Bieber.Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2024
-
For those needing a refresher: raclette is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food from the Swiss Alps, celebrated throughout France, Germany, and Austria.Jenn Rice, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Because there’s no active crane hunting season — sandhills aren’t even defined as a game bird in the state — farmers are left with two options.Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 17 Jan. 2025
-
Hybrid employees are the most likely to desire permanent remote work options (27%).Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
However, the department's typical course of action is to negotiate voluntary settlements rather than pursue extreme measures such as revoking federal funding.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
-
New laws could also formally require AI labs to share information with the U.K. government, replacing the voluntary agreements that currently exist.Billy Perrigo, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Merriman, of course, was eventually part of the infamous Eli Manning-Phillip Rivers trade in 2004.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
-
There will be more hiking through desolate, wide-open spaces, more ghosts, and, of course, more unhinged metamodern storytelling.Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The landscape of executive education is vast: conferences, in-house seminars, trade journals, social media, and countless books.ESMT Berlin, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
-
State of play: The three-day event will highlight the bountiful picks now available in the low-ABV and no-alcohol drink world, as well as general healthy living, via events like tastings, drink competitions, dance parties and seminars.Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
On its highest-volume days, the clinic can spay or neuter 100 community cats brought in by volunteer trappers, partner nonprofit groups, foster programs, local residents, or the animal shelter, says Kelly Sheehan, the organization’s communications and development manager.Jackie Valley, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Jan. 2025
-
Some of the medications, the clinic said, can lower both heart rate and blood pressure, are only available in intravenous forms and can expand blood vessels.Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement Students who had been at Marquez Elementary will report for class at Nora Sterry Elementary in the Sawtelle neighborhood, which is south of Brentwood.Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
-
As for poetry, el-Masry’s taste ran to the less rarefied, with the aforementioned Philip Levine and his valorization of the working class as the epitome of the form.Han Ong, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near elective
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elective. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share