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
Relevance
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elective
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Marcel Olbert is Assistant Professor of Accounting at London Business School and teaches in LBS’ MBA programme and elective portfolio.
—London Business School, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 2025
Boys and girls will be separate for most classes save for electives and more advanced coursework.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elective
Adjective
For two decades, Baraka, the son of the poet Amiri Baraka, was a teacher and a high-school principal who moonlighted as a candidate for elective office.
—Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Marcel Olbert is Assistant Professor of Accounting at London Business School and teaches in LBS’ MBA programme and elective portfolio.
—London Business School, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Boys and girls will be separate for most classes save for electives and more advanced coursework.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elective
Adjective
-
As pilot classes continue, the San Dieguito Union High School District board voted this month to continue offering ethnic studies as an optional ninth grade English course for students in the coming school year.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
At the same time, optional sensors can also be added to detect gases or measure external temperatures.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An intense refresher on fundamentals would seemingly benefit Stroud, whose game has deteriorated.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Dunkin’s new Protein Milk selections allow customers to add 15 grams of protein to any beverage that includes a milk or non-dairy base, such as coffees, lattes, matcha and refreshers.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
15 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
-
Tanya Ceja pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Most recently, Waymo issued a voluntary software recall after six instances where the vehicles drove past Atlanta Public School buses with their stop arms extended.—
Sara Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump has warned against killing protesters and had repeatedly threatened to intervene if Tehran does not change course.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Those economies will be joined by at least 11 others over the course of the month in setting interest rates, including South Africa and Mozambique, where policymakers’ next moves are far less certain.—
Monique Vanek,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The event will feature multiple seminar options for attendees to pick from.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But at VanWineFest, the seminars are where the real magic happens.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The outpatient building will include clinics and an ambulatory surgery center.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Many effective treatments come with high costs, discomfort or require regular clinic visits.—
William Jones
January 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a new way to reshape MXenes, a highly conductive class of nanomaterials, into one-dimensional structures that could improve batteries, biosensors, and wearable electronics.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The selection of a new class is the most important duty the Hall of Fame oversees each year, and the integrity of that process cannot be in question.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elective. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
