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View synonyms for

opportunistic

[ op-er-too-nis-tik, -tyoo- ]

adjective

  1. adhering to a policy of opportunism; practicing opportunism.
  2. Pathology.
    1. (of a microorganism) causing disease only under certain conditions, as when a person's immune system is impaired.
    2. (of a disease or infection) caused by such an organism:

      Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic disease that often strikes victims of AIDS.



opportunistic

/ ˌɒəʊˈɪɪ /

adjective

  1. of or characterized by opportunism
  2. med (of an infection) caused by any microorganism that is harmless to a healthy person but debilitates a person whose immune system has been weakened by disease or drug treatment
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌDZǰٳˈԾپ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • DZpǰ·ٳܲ·t·· adverb
  • ܲo·ǰ·ٳܲ·t adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of opportunistic1

First recorded in 1890–95; opportunist + -ic
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Our paper from 2023 is a big, big summary of the fungi found through these opportunistic sampling events over an 11 year period.

From

A measles infection temporarily suppresses the immune system, Mina said, and it was long assumed that opportunistic infections around the time of the illness were the result of that short-term suppression.

From

But Emma Orr's opportunistic score brought the visitors back within touching at half-time.

From

"It's a very wrong thing to do, and opportunistic and somewhat cynical," he added.

From

California’s black bears are clever, resourceful and opportunistic.

From

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opportunistopportunistic infection