as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
a plastic surgeon who mainly does face-lifting and other kinds of elective surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refresher
Related Words
2
as in option
Related Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of elective
Anthony Digiorgio, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
In 2019, Sarah Holmes, an environmental science and anatomy teacher and longtime beekeeper, taught a short elective course on beekeeping during the school’s interim week.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Should the levy not pass, the district projects fewer electives, cuts to athletics, activities and music and class sizes are expected to increase across all grade levels.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elective
Adjective
Annually, Americans undergo 15 billion lab tests, 800 million elective imaging studies, 800 million office visits, and 19 million elective outpatient surgeries.
—Anthony Digiorgio, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
In 2019, Sarah Holmes, an environmental science and anatomy teacher and longtime beekeeper, taught a short elective course on beekeeping during the school’s interim week.
—Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Initially keen to enter the medical field like his parents, who are both registered nurses, Zane found his true passion in a computer-science elective as a freshman in high school.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Should the levy not pass, the district projects fewer electives, cuts to athletics, activities and music and class sizes are expected to increase across all grade levels.
—Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elective
Adjective
-
For debris handling, Beatbot highlights an ultra-large six-liter debris capacity with fine filtration, and its CES release describes an optional three-micron ultra-fine filter for tighter particle capture.—
IE Creative Studio,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The use of personal protective equipment is optional but encouraged for those who choose to wear it.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For non-coffee drinks, the dragon fruit and strawberry acai refreshers are two of their best sellers.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
-
For those needing a refresher on the NFL’s playoff format, all division winners and the top three Wild Card teams from each conference make the playoffs.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Take a cue from Nicole Kidman and swap bulky trainers for a sleeker option that styles effortlessly from the plane to wherever the day takes you.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Silver plans are a middle-tier option that the ACA marketplaces offer for qualifying consumers.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The program was also voluntary — if residents saw fit just to throw all their recyclable glass and aluminum and paper into the regular garbage there was nothing stopping them from doing so.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But that doesn’t mean anyone took it easy on Sherrod, who always participated in voluntary class time.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The city reversed course and put the matter out to bid but ultimately rejected a proposal by Nikki Beach after saying its representatives missed a deadline to submit documents.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Over the course of his life, Reagan worked as a clothing salesman, actor, radio personality, author, and political commentator.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Special guests and experts will lead seminars on fishing, gardening and cooking on three separate stages.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The event is part of the Northwest Health HealthyU series, a community program that provides free seminars on various health and wellness topics.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The health beat takes her inside operating rooms, laboratories and clinics to tell the story of health care from a human perspective.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
At the Harm Reduction Coalition of Santa Cruz County’s mobile syringe clinic, a single lamp shines a bright circle over folding tables stacked with boxes of soap, toothpaste, electrolytes, syringes, condoms and Narcan — a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses.—
Albert Chern,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The film is not blind to how easily big dreams can be derailed, especially for the hand-to-mouth creative class in a Midwestern outpost.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Recall that a year prior to Wardlaw passing her hot check, criminal court records confirm her guilty disposition for the crime of skipping out on a wholly different criminal-court appearance, which is a class C misdemeanor.—
Robert Steinbuch,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elective. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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