adjective · neutral
optional
UK/ˈɒpʃənəl/US/ˈɑːpʃənəl/OP·tion·al
Band 6-7speakingtask2
not required; available as a choice
Examples
“The course includes several optional modules.”
“Attendance at the seminar is optional for first‑year students.”
“You can add an optional extra when you buy the phone.”
Band 8 sentence
“I picked the optional module on environmental policy because it complements my major.”
Collocations
- optional module
- optional extra / optional upgrade
- optional subject
- lead an optional life
Word family
option nounoptional adjectiveoptionally adverboptionality noun
Common mistakes
This class is option.→This class is optional.
I will do this optional.→I will do this optionally.
Say it for a higher band
5choice→6elective→7+optional
Synonyms
elective
voluntary
Easily confused
voluntary
“Blood donation is a voluntary act.”
elective
“She chose an elective module in her final year.”
Related words
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In -al
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