1
: held by a person who is elected
He's never held an elective office.
2
: done or taken by choice: such as
a
: not medically necessary
Plastic surgery is elective surgery.
b
chiefly US
: not required in a particular course of study
She took three elective courses last term.
plural electives
US
: a class that is not required in a particular course of study
She's taking several electives this year.
called also (British) option
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/elective. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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