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

On tariffs, for instance, he’s seen as being more measured, favoring them only on a selective basis, compared to Trump’s blunt, across the board proposal of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10% on goods from China. —Joe Moglia, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Buyers are becoming more and more selective, rewarding innovative design, great finishing, precious metals/stone dials and perfect sizes. —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025

Where once overnight ratings were a brutal greenlight grading system, now networks can spin success stories and obfuscate flops using selective streaming figures. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025

This selective enforcement has raised questions about X's content moderation practices. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 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

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