adjective
- pertaining to the principle of electing to an office, position, etc.
- chosen by election, as an official.
- bestowed by or derived from election, as an office.
- having the power or right of electing to office, as a body of persons.
- open to choice; optional; not required: an elective subject in college; elective surgery.
- Chemistry. selecting for combination or action; tending to combine with certain substances in preference to others: elective attraction.
noun
- an optional study; a course that a student may select from among alternatives.
adjective
- of or based on selection by voteelective procedure
- selected by votean elective official
- having the power to elect
- open to choice; optionalan elective course of study
noun
- an optional course or hospital placement undertaken by a medical student
adj.early 15c., from Late Latin electivus, from electus, past participle of eligere (see election). In reference to school subjects studied at the student’s choice, first recorded 1847. As a noun, from 1701.