selective

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by selection : selecting or tending to select

2

: highly specific in activity or effect

selective pesticides

selective absorption

selectively adverb

selectiveness noun

selectivity

sə-ˌlek-ˈti-və-tē 

ˌsē-

noun

Synonyms

• choosy
• choosey
• particular
• picky

Examples of selective in a Sentence

The club is selective in choosing members.

The college has a highly selective admissions process.

Recent Examples on the Web

The duties will hit companies at a time when many consumers have become value-conscious and selective about spending due to persistent inflation and concerns about the economy. —Melissa Repko,gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2025

Models are trained to draw from selective sources, ensuring the output is as reliable as possible. —Yaw Fellin, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Ed-tech provider Byju's collapse invited stronger regulatory scrutiny, per PitchBook, demonstrating the need for transparency in an increasingly selective funding environment. —Natalie Breymeyer, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025

Every child in Maryland deserves a quality education — not just the few admitted through selective admissions procedures. —Dhruvak Mirani, Baltimore Sun, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing selective

• selective breeding
• selective estrogen receptor modulator
• selective memory
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• selective service

Rhymes for selective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids Definition

selective

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv 

: of or relating to selection : selecting or tending to select

selective shoppers

Medical Definition

selective

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by selection : selecting or tending to select

2

: highly specific in activity or effect

selective pesticides

selective permeability of a plasma membrane

selectively adverb