facultative

facultative Definition

fac·ul·ta·tive (fak′əl tāt′iv)

adjective

1. granting a faculty, or permission; permissive
2. optional
that may or may not happen or be; contingent
having to do with a faculty or faculties
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.

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