optional
adjective
op·tion·al
ˈäp-sh(ə-)nəl 
: involving an option : not compulsory
optionally
adverb
Examples of optional in a Sentence
Jackets are required at the restaurant, but ties are optional.
Many optional features are available on this car.
Registration is optional, not mandatory.
Recent Examples on the Web
For larger groups or families, the already massive two-bedroom penthouse can become a three-bedroom behemoth thanks to an optional adjoining suite.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Country over party became optional.
—Stu Strumwasser, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
For companies working in digital visibility, this shift is not optional.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
While the Chick-fil-A challenge remains optional and limited in scope, its viral moment underscores a wider cultural tension between convenience and connection.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optional
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026
Country over party became optional.
—Stu Strumwasser, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
For companies working in digital visibility, this shift is not optional.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
While the Chick-fil-A challenge remains optional and limited in scope, its viral moment underscores a wider cultural tension between convenience and connection.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for optional
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optional. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
optional
adjective
op·tion·al
ˈäp-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
: left to one's choice : not required
optional equipment on a new car
optionally
adverb
-ē
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