Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun elective

1 sense of elective

Sense 1
elective course, elective -- (a course that the student can select from among alternatives)
       => course, course of study, course of instruction, class -- (education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings; "he took a course in basket weaving"; "flirting is not unknown in college classes")

Antonyms of adj elective

2 senses of elective

Sense 1
elective (vs. appointive), elected -- (subject to popular election; "elective official")

appointive (vs. elective), appointed -- (subject to appointment)
        => nominated, nominative -- (appointed by nomination)
        => nonelective, non-elective, nonelected -- (filled by appointment rather than by election; "a nonelective office")

Sense 2
elective -- (not compulsory; "elective surgery"; "an elective course of study")

INDIRECT (VIA optional) -> obligatory -- (morally or legally constraining or binding; "attendance is obligatory"; "an obligatory contribution")

Similarity of adj elective

2 senses of elective

Sense 1
elective (vs. appointive), elected -- (subject to popular election; "elective official")
       => electoral -- (relating to or composed of electors; "electoral college")
       => nonappointive -- (filled by popular election rather than by appointment)

Sense 2
elective -- (not compulsory; "elective surgery"; "an elective course of study")
       => optional (vs. obligatory) -- (possible but not necessary; left to personal choice)