facultative Meaning & Definition
What Does Facultative Mean?
As an adjective, facultative means of or relating to the grant of permission, authority, or privilege. It is also used to mean optional.
Quick Facts About Facultative
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈfa-kəl-ˌtā-tiv/ |
| Syllables | 4 |
| Synonyms | enabling and optional |
| Antonyms | obligate |
| Comparative / superlative | more facultative, most facultative |
| Adverb | facultatively |
| First known use | 1820 |
Facultative Definition (Adjective)
- of or relating to the grant of permission, authority, or privilege
facultative legislation
- optional
- of or relating to a mental faculty
- taking place under some conditions but not under others
facultative diapause
- exhibiting an indicated lifestyle under some environmental conditions but not under others
facultative anaerobes
Synonyms of Facultative
Facultative synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Facultative
Facultative in a Sentence
facultative feeder
facultative legislation
facultative diapause
facultative anaerobes
Word Forms & Grammar
fac·ul·ta·tive·ly adverb
facultative
facultatively
facultative (comparative more facultative, superlative most facultative)
Words That Rhyme With Facultative
Origin of Facultative
Origin 1: borrowed from French & New Latin; French facultatif, borrowed from New Latin facultātīvus, from Medieval Latin facultāt-, facultās "ability, power, authority, privilege, right" (Latin, "ability, power") + Latin -īvus -ive faculty
Origin 2: From French facultatif.[1] By surface analysis, faculty + -ative.
First Known Use
1820
Facultative Pronunciation
Facultative is pronounced /ˈfa-kəl-ˌtā-tiv/ and has 4 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (fa).
Quick Answers About Facultative
What part of speech is facultative?
Facultative is an adjective.
What is another word for facultative?
You can replace facultative with words such as enabling and optional. See the full list of facultative synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of facultative?
The opposite of facultative is obligate.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of facultative?
The comparative form is more facultative and the superlative form is most facultative.