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facultative Definition

fac·ul·ta·tive (fakəl tāt′iv)

adjective

    1. granting a faculty, or permission; permissive
    2. optional
  1. that may or may not happen or be; contingent
  2. having to do with a faculty or faculties
  3. Biol. capable of living under varying conditions; e.g., able to live independently and as a parasite

Etymology: Fr facultatif < L facultas: see faculty

facultative Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • anaerobe: Many bacteria may however grow in both the presence or absence of oxygen, and these are termed facultative anaerobes.
  • reinsurance: DMC Category Rating: C onfirmed Background The case concerned a facultative reinsurance placed with Gan Insurance Company in March 1996.
  • parasite: In contrast, facultative parasites can develop in both living and dead organic matter.
  • pathogen: However, the organism causes disease when changes in the skin allow it to become a " facultative pathogen " .
  • endosymbionts: We are using pea aphids and their facultative endosymbionts as a model system.
  • basis: GAN reinsured 2 % of this risk on a facultative basis, with Tai Ping reinsuring the remainder elsewhere.

Browse dictionary entries near facultative

  1. faculae
  2. facture
  3. factum
  4. factualism
  5. factual
  6. facts
  7. factotum
  8. factory orders report
  9. factory
  10. factorize
  1. faculty
  2. fad
  3. faddish
  4. faddism
  5. fade
  6. fade-in
  7. fade-out
  8. fadeaway
  9. faded
  10. fadeless