elective

Plural: electives

Noun

• An optional course of study or subject.
• a course that the student can select from among alternatives
• Something that is an option or may be freely chosen, especially a course of study.

Adjective

• subject to popular election
  • "elective official"

Adjective Satellite

• not compulsory
  • "elective surgery"
  • "an elective course of study"

Adj

• Of, or pertaining to voting or elections; involving a choice between options.
• Open to choice; freely chosen; (also, usually) unnecessary; minor.
• Scheduled and nonemergent (regardless of whether necessary or unnecessary and whether minor or serious).

Examples

• After accounting for all of my required courses, there is hardly any room in my schedule for any elective ones.
• Choosing between two equally good words was an elective decision for the Scrabble master.
• I still need to decide which electives to take along with my compulsory courses next semester.
• It was very confusing hearing my cancer surgery being classified as "elective surgery". Am I "electing" to live rather than die?

Synonyms

elected, elective course, discretionary, electoral, optional, voluntary

Antonyms

appointive, compulsory, emergent, hereditary, involuntary, mandatory, obligatory, required, unscheduled

Related Words

elect, election

Anagrams of elective