I. ə̇ˈlektiv, -tēv also -təv adjective
Etymology: Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French electif, from Medieval Latin electivus, from Latin electus (past participle of eligere to pick out, choose) + -ivus -ive — more at elect
1.
a.
(1) : chosen by popular election
an elective legislature
(2) : assigned or filled by popular election
first elective position was as county probate judge — Current Biography
b. : of or relating to election
all other elective functions can only be exercised by the General Assembly — Herbert Weinschel
the elective franchise
c. : based on the right or principle of election
governments may be described … as either hereditary or elective — F.L.Windolph
2. : that may be elected : permitting a choice (as between alternatives)
a law is elective if the employer is allowed to accept or reject the act — G.W.Miller
: optional
for the other half day elective courses are followed in heterogeneous groups — music, art … and physical education — Elise Martens
3.
a. : tending to operate on one substance rather than another
elective fermentation
elective absorption
elective attraction
b. : tending toward one object rather than another : sympathetically inclined toward
we Southerners lack … an elective affinity with that book — Norman Douglas
• elec·tive·ly -tə̇vlē, -li adverb
• elec·tive·ness -tivnə̇s, -tēv- also -təv- noun -es
II. noun
( -s )
: an elective course or subject (as in a college curriculum)
in the late seventies, when I was an undergraduate, electives were still unknown in the smaller New England colleges — John Dewey
his electives included English 136 and Philosophy 101
III. adjective
: beneficial to the patient but not essential for his survival
an elective appendectomy