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optional

noun

  1. Something that is not compulsory, especially part of an academic course.

  2. (sometimes capitalized) In various programming languages, a kind of variable that is assigned a specific data type but may or may not hold an actual value.

adjective

  1. Not compulsory; left to personal choice; elective.

    "On that beach clothing is entirely optional."

    Similar: facultative

Synonymsfacultative
Antonymscompulsory, mandatory, obligatory

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