opportunistic

English

Etymology

From opportunist +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌɒp.əˌtjuːˈnɪs.tɪk/, /ˌɒp.əˌt͡ʃ(j)uːˈnɪs.tɪk/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌɑ.pɚˌt(j)uːˈnɪs.tɪk/

Adjective

opportunistic (comparative more opportunistic, superlative most opportunistic)

1. Taking advantage of situations that arise.

   The danger now isn't so much from the AIDS virus itself as from opportunistic infections.

2. Taking advantage of situations to advance one's own interests without regard for moral principles.

   You can't trust somebody that opportunistic: he'll stab you in the back the first chance he gets.

   • 1997 September 28, “In Rescuing a Relative, a Helping or a Heavy Hand?”, in The New York Times‎:

     […] an opportunistic relative masquerading as his rescuer, […]

   • 2022 November 18, Kaitlyn Tiffany, “Tumblr Gets the Last Laugh”, in The Atlantic‎:

     Now, maybe you see this as sort of an obvious and opportunistic publicity play by a competing social-media service. Maybe it even seems crass to you—a little grave-dancy.

Derived terms

• nonopportunistic
• opportunistically
• opportunistic infection

Related terms

• opportunist
• opportunism
• opportunity

Translations

taking advantage of situations that arise

Catalan: oportunista French: opportun (fr) Indonesian: oportunistis (id) Malay: oportunistik

said of people who will take advantage of situations

Catalan: oportunista Dutch: opportunistisch (nl) French: opportuniste (fr), profiteur (fr) Galician: oportunista German: opportunistisch (de) Japanese: 日和る (hiyoru) Portuguese: oportunista (pt) Spanish: oportunista (es)