selective
adjective
se·lec·tive
sə-ˈlek-tiv 
2
: highly specific in activity or effect
selective pesticides
selective absorption
Synonyms of selective
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
Psychological and Social Effects Growing up in a society with consistent access to a selective reality on social media that often doesn’t reflect true reality, can result in pressures, expectations, and beliefs that are difficult or impossible to realize, says Biller.
—
Sherri Gordon, Parents, 20 Dec. 2025
Parents may also feel pressure for their children to succeed, whether that means getting admitted to a selective school, or becoming a good athlete or an accomplished musician.
—Margaret Murray, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Comey and James had also moved to have the criminal charges against them tossed out on the grounds that their respective prosecutions were vindictive and selective.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation oversees a market where carriers have become increasingly selective, and Citizens Property Insurance maintains specific inspection requirements that affect which properties qualify for coverage.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Sherri Gordon, Parents, 20 Dec. 2025
Parents may also feel pressure for their children to succeed, whether that means getting admitted to a selective school, or becoming a good athlete or an accomplished musician.
—Margaret Murray, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
Comey and James had also moved to have the criminal charges against them tossed out on the grounds that their respective prosecutions were vindictive and selective.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation oversees a market where carriers have become increasingly selective, and Citizens Property Insurance maintains specific inspection requirements that affect which properties qualify for coverage.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
2
: highly specific in activity or effect
selective pesticides
selective permeability of a plasma membrane
selectively
adverb
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