as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice
a plastic surgeon who mainly does face-lifting and other kinds of elective surgery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refresher
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in option
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elective
Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Some already have left, creating staffing shortages that forced some elective surgeries to be postponed this week.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
Rustin Dodd, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Sustainable development and character building should be included in every aspect of business school curricula, from the core courses to the electives and case studies.
—Jacqueline Novogratz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for elective
Adjective
However, since laser therapies are an elective cosmetic treatment, they’re rarely covered by insurance.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Some already have left, creating staffing shortages that forced some elective surgeries to be postponed this week.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
Noun
Many were football players signed up for an easy elective.
—Rustin Dodd, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Sustainable development and character building should be included in every aspect of business school curricula, from the core courses to the electives and case studies.
—Jacqueline Novogratz, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for elective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elective
Adjective
-
The board agreed and voted unanimously to make the class optional this coming schoolyear instead of mandatory.—
Marsha Sutton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The new Certificate of Need process would shorten many of those time frames, with the period to determine the completion of applications shrinking from 30 to just three days followed by decision deadlines cut in half and public hearings made optional, according to a release from Anwar.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As a little refresher, the Bottled in Bond Act was passed in 1897 in an attempt to ensure the quality of American whiskey.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2025
-
As a refresher, the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, tells the story of a cynical weatherman named Phil.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The next-gen Mac Studio, Apple's powerful but small desktop computer, comes with two processor configuration options: an M4 Max chip or a new M3 Ultra chip.—
Brenda Stolyar,
WIRED,
5 Mar. 2025
-
For this reason, chicken may be a better animal protein option for managing cholesterol.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Some bar owners had expressed concerns the program would be mandatory or would be used as a cudgel by the city to force changes to their businesses, but Alldredge stressed the program would be voluntary and would largely consist of things bars and restaurants already do.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Participation is voluntary, and patients can opt out at any time.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Fleury, of course, wasn’t amused by getting beaten by Malkin.—
Josh Yohe,
The Athletic,
10 Mar. 2025
-
This, of course, was a conjecture; for once, Lilian was not interested in knowing the truth.—
Yiyun Li,
The New Yorker,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Attend seminars on Texas wildlife and conservation and take your kids to the Junction for the petting zoo.—
Shafaq Patel,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Doerr provides the example, taken from the original seminar taught by Grove, in which the objective is to dominate a new sector in the microcomputer-component market, and one of the key results is to come up with ten new designs for a component.—
Cal Newport,
The New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The baby seal was transferred to an animal rescue clinic after his condition deteriorated.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Pregnancy clinic goes mobile to bring services to Miami neighborhood Steward’s bankruptcy announcement raises the stakes — not just at North Shore, but at Palmetto and other hospitals across Steward’s network.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Asians made up 7% of the population yet made up 19% of Harvard’s class.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
-
With a Relative Athletic Score of 9.81, Ferguson put himself up there as one of the athletes in this class at tight end.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elective. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share