Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

elective

Syllabification: (e·lec·tive)
Pronunciation: /iˈlektiv/
Translate elective | into Italian
Definition of elective

adjective

  • 1related to or working by means of election:an elective democracy
  • (of a person or office) appointed or filled by election:he had never held elective office the National Assembly, with 125 elective members
  • (of a body or position) possessing or giving the power to elect.
  • 2(of a course of study) chosen by the student rather than compulsory.
  • (of surgical or medical treatment) chosen by the patient rather than urgently necessary.

noun

chiefly North American
  • an optional course of study:up to half the credits in many public high schools are electives

Derivatives

electively

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French electif, -ive, from late Latin electivus, from elect- 'picked out', from the verb eligere (see elect)

elective in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of elective in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …