adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɪˈlɛktɪv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛktɪv
CMU ARPABET:IH0 L EH1 K T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of, or pertaining to voting or elections; involving a choice between options.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1697, John Dryden, The Works of Virgil [...] translated into English Verse, London: Jacob Tonson, dedicatory preface to the Marquess of Normanby, For his Conscience could not but whisper to the Arbitrary Monarch, that the Kings of Rome were at first Elective, and Govern’d not without a Senate:
1896, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, “The South African Question” in Speeches and Writings of M. K. Gandhi, Madras: G.A. Natesan, 3rd edition, 1922, p. 6, [The bill] says that no natives of countries (not of European origin) which have not hitherto possessed elective representative institutions [...] shall be placed on the voters roll [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: electoral
Antonyms: appointive, hereditary
2
adj
Meaning 2
Open to choice; freely chosen; (also, usually) unnecessary; minor.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
After accounting for all of my required courses, there is hardly any room in my schedule for any elective ones.
1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, London: T. Payne & Son, and T. Cadell, Volume 5, Book 9, Chapter 8, pp. 160-161, “You know not then,” said Cecilia, in a faint voice, “my inability to comply?” “Your ability, or inability, I presume are elective?” “Oh no!—my power is lost!—my fortune itself is gone!”
It was very confusing hearing my cancer surgery being classified as "elective surgery". Am I "electing" to live rather than die?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: emergent, unscheduled
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something that is an option or may be freely chosen, especially a course of study.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I still need to decide which electives to take along with my compulsory courses next semester.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
subject to popular election
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
elective official
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: elected
Antonyms: appointive
6
adjective satellite
Meaning 6
not compulsory
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
elective surgery
an elective course of study
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
a course that the student can select from among alternatives
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: elective course
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: course, course of study, course of instruction, class
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English elect Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Old French -ifbor. Middle English -yf English -ive English elective From elect + -ive.
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
изборен
(izboren)
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Catalan:
electiu
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Finnish:
äänestys-
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Finnish:
vaali-
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Korean:
선거의
(seon'geoui)
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Portuguese:
eletivo
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Spanish:
electivo
— of or pertaining to voting or elections
Armenian:
կամընտրական
(kaməntrakan)
— optional or discretionary
Bulgarian:
по избор
(po izbor)
— optional or discretionary
Catalan:
electiu
— optional or discretionary
Czech:
elektivní
— optional or discretionary
Danish:
elektiv
— optional or discretionary
Finnish:
valinnainen
— optional or discretionary
French:
facultatif
— optional or discretionary
German:
elektiv
— optional or discretionary
German:
optional
— optional or discretionary
German:
wählend
— optional or discretionary
Hungarian:
elektív
— optional or discretionary
Hungarian:
tervezhető
— optional or discretionary
Hungarian:
ütemezett
— optional or discretionary
Hungarian:
fakultáció
— optional or discretionary
Indonesian:
elektif
— optional or discretionary
Korean:
수의선택의
(suuiseontaegui)
— optional or discretionary
