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
Vests are optional for drivers as of now.
—
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2025
This Community Requests feature is optional; agencies can’t see who received a notification or who chose not to respond.
—PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025
No reasonable person believes the rules of the road can continue to be optional.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
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Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
—Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2025
This Community Requests feature is optional; agencies can’t see who received a notification or who chose not to respond.
—PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025
No reasonable person believes the rules of the road can continue to be optional.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for optional
Cite this Entry
“Optional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optional. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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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