Advertisement
English Lexicon

Elective

/ɪˈlɛk.tɪv/
adjectivenounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #5400 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Relating to or open to choice; optional rather than required.

    "Taking the advanced literature seminar is an elective requirement for graduation."
As noun
  1. 1

    A course or subject that a student can choose from a range of options.

    "She decided to take photography as her creative arts elective this semester."
Advertisement

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'electivus', from 'eligere' meaning 'to pick out or choose' (from ex- 'out' + legere 'to choose'). It entered English in the late 15th century initially relating to appointments or choices made by vote, later expanding to medical procedures and educational courses chosen at will.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Elective"?

Advertisement
Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Elective"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Elective" Synonym Map
Advertisement