Definition of selective
2
:highly specific in activity or effect
- selective pesticides
- selective absorption
-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- dotage, dotard otherwise federalism bodega carceral
- ALL
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Read the Latest from M-W
Examples of selective in a Sentence
The club is selective in choosing members.
The college has a highly selective admissions process.
Recent Examples of selective from the Web
-
Russia and Belarus are instead choosing a selective approach that falls short.
-
As the climate changed, opening vast grasslands in the region, early horses moved onto the plains, with selective pressure leading to a larger body mass.
-
But many argued that the statues commemorate very selective memories.
-
The amnesia is usually centered on traumatic events, such as accidents or unexpected bereavements, and is usually partial and selective.
-
For festival nerds who enjoy the parlor game of trying to figure out which films will be part of Telluride’s secret, ultra-selective lineup, one clue within T.I.F.F.’s announcement is looking at the Canadian premieres which haven’t played Sundance.
-
For festival nerds who enjoy the parlor game of trying to figure out which films will be part of Telluride’s secret, ultra-selective lineup, one clue within T.I.F.F.’s announcement is looking at the Canadian premieres which haven’t played Sundance.
-
Identifying genetic markers might help accelerate selective breeding for resistance.
-
The attendees were sponsored by American Legion Post 96 Auxiliary to attend one of the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'selective.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of selective
1625
selective Synonyms
Synonyms
choosy (or choosey), particular, pickyAntonyms
nonselective, unselectiveRelated Words
nice; fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussy; discerning, discriminating, judiciousNear Antonyms
indiscriminate, indiscriminatingSELECTIVE Defined for English Language Learners
selective
play
adjective
Definition of selective for English Language Learners
-
: careful to choose only the best people or things
-
: involving the selection of people or things from a group
SELECTIVE Defined for Kids
selective
play
adjective
se·lec·tive
\
sə-ˈlek-tiv
\
Definition of selective for Students
:careful to choose or include only the best or most suitable individuals
- a selective college
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about selective
-
See words that rhyme with selective Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for selective Spanish Central: Translation of selective Nglish: Translation of selective for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of selective for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up selective? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
