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
: an elective course or subject
Synonyms
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
Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024
Kendrick feels that these topics should be reserved to students in high school enrolled in AP/Honors courses or seeking inquisitive elective credits to add to their transcript.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Feb. 2024
My grandmother’s notion of independence is one thrust onto her as an immigrant and a widow, not an elective independence like mine.
—Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 6 Feb. 2024
Some call this dynamic conscious co-parenting or elective co-parenting.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 4 Feb. 2024
Nationally, there’s pressure to pass such state mandates because health plans often don’t cover hearing aids for kids, calling them elective or cosmetic.
—Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2024
Many are in Miami area FIU-Baptist partnership gives students first dibs on training
FIU students will have priority over students from other medical schools for spots in required and elective clinical rotations at Baptist Health facilities.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
In Wisconsin, those include judges, county executives and supervisors, school board members, and elective town, village and city offices.
—Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2024
While Parson touted the state as having zero elective abortions, the ban has led Missourians to travel to other states where the procedure remains legal, such as Kansas and Illinois.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
Students take electives like physical education, choir, band, art and a technology class that focuses on 3D manufacturing and augmented reality.
—The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
Initially his major was Communications but after taking a winter elective in winemaking, his time in Comms ended.
—Noël Burgess, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The student and lifelong writer holds a bachelor’s degree in English and hopes to teach literature, essay writing, and possibly a creative writing elective.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
The financial literacy class can be taken as an elective or as a substitute for a half unit of mathematics.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2024
Unique electives provide skillsets such as the designs of characters for gaming and cutting-edge technologies (3-D printing and laser-cutting techniques).
—Cathy Whitlock, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024
Another elective will explore Cincinnati-specific history.
—The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
For these characters, the study of English isn’t merely an elective chosen to broaden their knowledge of the world or enhance an upcoming trip.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Her early forays into elective politics failed because the one-time anti-war, Green Party member who backed insurgent presidential candidate Ralph Nader was seen as too liberal.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024
Kendrick feels that these topics should be reserved to students in high school enrolled in AP/Honors courses or seeking inquisitive elective credits to add to their transcript.
—Charlotte Observer, 8 Feb. 2024
My grandmother’s notion of independence is one thrust onto her as an immigrant and a widow, not an elective independence like mine.
—Kristina Kasparian, Longreads, 6 Feb. 2024
Some call this dynamic conscious co-parenting or elective co-parenting.
—Allison Hope, Parents, 4 Feb. 2024
Nationally, there’s pressure to pass such state mandates because health plans often don’t cover hearing aids for kids, calling them elective or cosmetic.
—Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 31 Jan. 2024
Many are in Miami area FIU-Baptist partnership gives students first dibs on training
FIU students will have priority over students from other medical schools for spots in required and elective clinical rotations at Baptist Health facilities.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024
In Wisconsin, those include judges, county executives and supervisors, school board members, and elective town, village and city offices.
—Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2024
While Parson touted the state as having zero elective abortions, the ban has led Missourians to travel to other states where the procedure remains legal, such as Kansas and Illinois.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Noun
Metal madness is a science elective for high schoolers.
—The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
Students take electives like physical education, choir, band, art and a technology class that focuses on 3D manufacturing and augmented reality.
—The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2024
Initially his major was Communications but after taking a winter elective in winemaking, his time in Comms ended.
—Noël Burgess, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The student and lifelong writer holds a bachelor’s degree in English and hopes to teach literature, essay writing, and possibly a creative writing elective.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
The financial literacy class can be taken as an elective or as a substitute for a half unit of mathematics.
—Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2024
Unique electives provide skillsets such as the designs of characters for gaming and cutting-edge technologies (3-D printing and laser-cutting techniques).
—Cathy Whitlock, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024
Another elective will explore Cincinnati-specific history.
—The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
For these characters, the study of English isn’t merely an elective chosen to broaden their knowledge of the world or enhance an upcoming trip.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near elective
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elective. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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