elective

1 of 2

adjective

elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce elective (audio)
1
a
: chosen or filled by popular election
an elective official
b
: of or relating to election
c
: based on the right or principle of election
the presidency is an elective office
2
a
: permitting a choice : optional
an elective course in school
b(1)
: relating to, being, or involving a nonemergency medical procedure and especially surgery that is planned in advance and is not essential to the survival of the patient
elective hip surgery
elective tonsillectomy
elective cosmetic procedures
(2)
: offering or specializing in nonemergency medical procedures and especially surgery
an elective surgical unit
(3)
: relating to or being a patient receiving a nonemergency medical procedure
elective orthopedic patients
3
a
: tending to operate on one substance rather than another
elective absorption
b
: favorably inclined to one more than to another : sympathetic
an elective affinity
electively adverb
electiveness noun

elective

2 of 2

noun

: an elective course or subject

Examples of elective in a Sentence

Adjective He's never held an elective office. Plastic surgery is elective surgery. She took three elective courses last term. Noun She's taking several electives this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Additionally, the termination of Prime’s contract will not affect members’ behavioral health care, outpatient services or the ability to keep their current physicians for elective care. Scott Schwebke, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024 The overall average length of stay in an NHS hospital was 8.3 days in 2022, while length of stay for elective admissions was 5.1 days. William Booth, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024 An elective procedure doesn’t mean the surgery is optional, but rather that it can be scheduled in advance, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Sara G. Miller, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024 The nation's top civilian military official can work from anywhere these days, including a hospital bed or even the ICU where Austin spent a few days last week while being treated for complications from an elective surgery. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2024 The Pentagon disclosed late Friday that Austin had been hospitalized after complications from an elective procedure. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024 An ambulance arrived seven minutes later at 7:22 p.m. MORE: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin released from hospital Austin, who underwent elective surgery on Dec. 22, but was hospitalized New Year's Day due to complications, was released from the hospital on Monday after a two-week stay. Beatrice Peterson, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2024 Pentagon officials claimed that Austin had been admitted to the hospital for an elective medical procedure, a term now being questioned with the prostate cancer admission. Emily Jacobs, Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2024 Advertisement San Diego Unified board members and administrators had successfully advocated for Assembly Bill 275, which was signed into law in October, allowing school districts and county boards of education to compensate student board members with stipends, elective course credit or both. Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2024
Noun
Initially his major was Communications but after taking a winter elective in winemaking, his time in Comms ended. Noël Burgess, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The student and lifelong writer holds a bachelor’s degree in English and hopes to teach literature, essay writing, and possibly a creative writing elective. Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024 The financial literacy class can be taken as an elective or as a substitute for a half unit of mathematics. Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2024 Unique electives provide skillsets such as the designs of characters for gaming and cutting-edge technologies (3-D printing and laser-cutting techniques). Cathy Whitlock, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024 Another elective will explore Cincinnati-specific history. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 For these characters, the study of English isn’t merely an elective chosen to broaden their knowledge of the world or enhance an upcoming trip. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile back home in Arkansas, Taylor’s math teacher had taken notice of her bright student and suggested to her parents that boarding school would be a good option to make the most of her senior year rather than taking a slew of electives. April Wallace, arkansasonline.com, 28 Jan. 2024 The introduction to swimming elective will teach technical skills, aquatic safety and fitness, and aquatic sports. Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of elective was circa 1531

Dictionary Entries Near elective

Cite this Entry

“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elective. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elective

1 of 2 adjective
elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce elective (audio)
1
: chosen by election
an elective official
2
: held by a person who is elected
the presidency is an elective office
3
: followed or taken by choice : not required
an elective subject in school
electively adverb
electiveness noun

elective

2 of 2 noun
: an elective course or subject in school

Medical Definition

elective

adjective
elec·​tive i-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce elective (audio)
1
: relating to, being, or involving a nonemergency medical procedure and especially surgery that is planned in advance and is not essential to the survival of the patient
elective knee surgery
elective tonsillectomy
2
: offering or specializing in nonemergency medical procedures and especially surgery
elective surgical units
3
: relating to or being a patient receiving a nonemergency medical procedure
an elective orthopedic patient

Legal Definition

elective

adjective
elec·​tive
1
a
: chosen by popular election
an elective official
b
: of or relating to election
c
: based on the right or principle of election
the presidency is an elective office
2
a
: permitting a choice compare compulsory
b
: available as a choice
elective insurance coverage
c
: beneficial to the patient but not essential for survival
elective surgery

More from Merriam-Webster on elective

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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