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 of elective

Adjective

• 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

Interested students could pursue an optional curriculum track or elective concentration in osteopathic principles, available at any accredited school rather than confined to a parallel one. — Abigail MacKenzie, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026

Or the elective abjection of modernist figures like Antonin Artaud, Jean Genet, Marguerite Duras, and Simone Weil. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

Val had chosen a literature elective and a class on resistance movements; Milly had chosen cinema and art history. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Three-year programs typically work by reducing the credit requirement from 120 down to 90 or 100, largely by trimming general education requirements, open electives, and the room for a double major or a semester abroad. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for elective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• infective
• injective

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