optional
adjective
-shə-nᵊl\
Definition of optional
: involving an option : not compulsory
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Other Words from optional
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noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for optional
Synonyms
discretionary, elective, voluntary
Antonyms
compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, nonvoluntary, obligatory, required
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Examples of optional in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The dirty work of democracy is often compared to the making of sausages, but Australians almost take that maxim literally — turning Election Day into a countrywide barbecue, in which the grilling of hot dogs is optional but voting is compulsory. — Tacey Rychter, The Seattle Times, "Australia tells America: Here’s how to fix your voting system," 22 Oct. 2018 This will add extra shine, but is completely optional if sparkle isn't your thing. — Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "We Can't Get Enough of This Easy Vampire Makeup Tutorial for Halloween," 6 Sep. 2018 All of Michigan football's overseas trips have been optional and players and not all players have attended both spots. — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football's Jim Harbaugh: Team going to South Africa next year," 21 May 2018 However, that gear is mostly optional, and the Escape earned mid-level scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. — Car and Driver, "2018 Ford Escape," 23 Mar. 2018 The days of peeling, boiling and mashing were now optional, and for millions of cooks, Thanksgiving became a little easier. — Amanda Foreman, WSJ, "How Potatoes Conquered the World," 15 Nov. 2018 Biometric face scanning will be optional, meant as an option to save travelers time from checking in, as spotted by TechCrunch. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "Facial recognition scans are expanding to Delta flights in Atlanta International Airport," 20 Sep. 2018 This step is totally optional, but so much more fun. — Blake Bakkila, Good Housekeeping, "How to Fix a Broken Nail — and Grow 'Em Back Stronger," 20 Sep. 2018 Sleep off any late nights with a siesta on one of the town’s gay-friendly beaches, like Playa Bassa Rodona or Playa del Muerto, a clothing-optional alternative that’s reachable by clambering carefully over the rocky cliffs. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Places to Travel in June," 9 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'optional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for optional
optional
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of optional
: available as a choice but not required
See the full definition for optional in the English Language Learners Dictionary
optional
adjective
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Kids Definition of optional
: left to choice : not required Costumes are optional at the party.
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