(clinical psychology, psychiatry) Dated form of selective mutism (“A severe anxiety disorder characterized by a total inability to speak in some social settings”). In the past, some clinicians erroneously believed that individuals with elective mutism chose to remain silent in some social situations as an act of defiance. Contrary to what was once believed, the inability to speak (mutism) is involuntary, thus the potentially misleading term elective mutism has largely been supplanted by selective mutism.

present participle of self-elect

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of self-elect

plural of self-elect

To self-select; to choose for oneself, rather than having another choose for one. / (transitive, intransitive) To self-appoint; to volunteer; to take on a role one has chosen for oneself.

Chosen by oneself; self-appointed.

The self-appointed elite. / A volunteer.

Having the right to elect oneself.

Alternative form of preelection

(chemistry, obsolete) The tendency of a substance to combine with some specific substances more readily than others. / (dated) The feeling of being attracted to or sympathetic with someone or something.