optional

Meaning

Adj

Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.

Noun

1. Something that is not compulsory, especially part of an academic course.
2. In various programming languages, a kind of variable that is assigned a specific data type but may or may not hold an actual value.

Synonyms

voluntary

elective

facultative

alternative

random

not obligatory

selective

electable

eligible

extracurricular

extraneous

extrinsic

free will

if desired

inessential

needless

non-specific

opt

peripheral

permissive

substitute

unessential

unneeded

unspecified

not required

unrequired

non-obligatory

alternate

opt.

any

arbitrary

at will

discretion

discretionary

dispensable

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒp.ʃə.nəl/

Etymology

From option + -al.

Sentences

The footbridge was replaced so as to incorporate optional lifts to the platforms .