FACULTATIVE

elective, facultative

(adjective) not compulsory; “elective surgery”; “an elective course of study”

facultative

(adjective) granting a privilege or permission or power to do or not do something; “a facultative enactment”

facultative

(adjective) able to exist under more than one set of conditions; “a facultative parasite can exist as a parasite or a saprophyte”

facultative

(adjective) of or relating to the mental faculties

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Adjective

facultative (comparative more facultative, superlative most facultative)

Of or relating to faculty, especially to mental faculty

Not obligate; optional, discretionary or elective

That grants permission or power to do something

(biology) Able to perform a particular life function, or to live generally, in more than one way

(geometry, of a point) At which a given function is positive.

Antonyms

• obligate

• obligatory

Anagrams

• active fault

Source: Wiktionary

Fac"ul*ta*tive, a. [L. facultas, -atis, faculty: cf. F. facultatif, G. fakultativ.]

1. Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or authority, privilege, license, or the like hence, optional; as, facultative enactments, or those which convey a faculty, or permission; the facultative referendum of Switzerland is one that is optional with the people and is necessary only when demanded by petition; facultative studies; -- opposed to obligatory and compulsory, and sometimes used with to.

2. Of such a character as to admit of existing under various forms or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or the like; specif.: (Biol.)

Definition: Having the power to live under different conditions; as, a facultative parasite, a plant which is normally saprophytic, but which may exist wholly or in part as a parasite; -- opposed to obligate.

3. (Physiol.) Pertaining to a faculty or faculties.

In short, there is no facultative plurality in the mind; it is a single organ of true judgment for all purposes, cognitive or practical. J. Martineau.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition