E‐lect″ive (?), a. [Cf. F. électif.] 1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.
2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing; electoral.
The independent use of their elective franchise. Bancroft.
3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an elective study; an elective office.
Kings of Rome were at first elective;... for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. Dryden.
Elective affinityorattraction(Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things; chemism.