English → Latin
“optional” in Latin
arbitriumthe decision of an arbiter, arbitration; judgement, decision, opinion; discretion, liberal decision; arbitrary decision,optiōchoosing, choice, preference, option
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
optional
cujus optio alicui datur; or otherwise by circumlocution with optio, arbitrium, etc. It is not optional, nihil est medium: if it were optional, si optio esset: Vid: OPTION.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for optional?
- The usual Latin words for “optional” are arbitrium, optiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.