selective

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also seed rounds in U.S. fintech are set to drop another 24% year over year, signaling a pivot toward highly selective, high-potential investments, according to the bank. Alena Botros, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2024 Of course, still under our policy, our strategy that has been since very, very selective. Sofia Celeste, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024 Duloxetine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is prescribed for anxiety and depression, and can also be used to treat nerve pain for people with diabetes, the Mayo Clinic notes. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2024 Big picture Costco has been a retail winner over the past couple years as Americans navigated an inflationary period that led them to be cost-conscious and more selective on their spending across categories. Paulina Likos, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for selective 

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of selective was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near selective

Cite this Entry

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

selective

adjective
se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
: of or relating to selection : selecting or tending to select
selective shoppers

Medical Definition

selective

adjective
se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on selective

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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