Adjacent Words

Optional definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OP'TIONAL, a.
1. Left to one's wish or choice; depending on choice or preference. It is optional with you to go or stay.
2. Leaving something to choice.
Original writs are either optional or peremptory.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: possible but not necessary; left to personal choice [ant: obligatory]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Date: 1765 involving an option ; not compulsory • optionality noun • optionally adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. being an option only; not obligatory. Derivatives: optionality n. optionally adv.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Optional Op"tion*al, a. Involving an option; depending on the exercise of an option; left to one's discretion or choice; not compulsory; as, optional studies; it is optional with you to go or stay. -- n. See Elective, n. If to the former the movement was not optional, it was the same that the latter chose when it was optional. --Palfrey. Original writs are either optional or peremptory. --Blackstone.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If something is optional, you can choose whether or not you do it or have it. Sex education is a sensitive area for some parents, and thus it should remain optional. ? compulsory ADJ

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Discretional, elective.

Moby Thesaurus

alternative, arbitrary, autonomous, discretional, discretionary, disjunctive, elective, free, free will, gratuitous, independent, nonmandatory, offered, proffered, self-acting, self-active, self-determined, self-determining, spontaneous, unasked, unbesought, unbidden, uncalled-for, uncoerced, uncompelled, unforced, uninfluenced, uninvited, unpressured, unprompted, unrequested, unrequired, unsolicited, unsought, volitional, voluntary, volunteer, willful