optional
English meaning: Optional
Definition
Available as a choice but not compulsory.
Example
“The dessert is optional, so you can skip it if you are already full.”
Another example: “Travel insurance is optional but strongly recommended.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral adjective for something offered as a choice but not required; common in product descriptions, courses and contracts ('an optional extra', 'optional module'). Contrasts directly with 'compulsory'.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From 'option' (Latin 'optio', choice) plus '-al'.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- optional extra
- purely optional
- optional module
- optional feature
Word Forms
optional; option (n); optionally (adv); opt (v)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B