selective service

noun

: a system under which men are called up for military service : draft

Examples of selective service in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Security is not a public good but, rather, a selective service. Bilal Y. Saab, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2015 The last meeting of the SBC occurred in 2019, and there was both a resolution on women not being included in the selective service, which would determine who would be eligible for a military draft in the U.S., and one against the teaching of critical race theory. Ryan Burge, The Conversation, 11 June 2021 Additionally, the justices declined for now to take up a challenge to the male-only registration requirement for the military draft -- meaning that even though the draft is not implemented, only men will still be required to register for the selective service. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 8 June 2021 During the civil rights era, their parents represented the Rev. James Groppi, one of the leaders of Milwaukee's fair housing marches; and the Rev. Michael Cullen, a member of the Milwaukee 14 who stole draft records from the city's selective service office and set them on fire. Gina Barton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2021 In addition to strength, stamina and ergonomic shoes, a job with the postal service requires a clean record, two years of safe driving, and a selective service registration. Sonja Sharpstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2022 Women required to sign up for selective service taken out An amendment that would have required women ages 18 to 25 to register for the Selective Service, alongside men, was stripped from the legislation. Savannah Behrmann, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2021 The change in selective service is tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act making its way through the Senate. Matt Canham, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2021 It is considered must-pass legislation, and it is expected that the new selective service requirement for women will remain in place, according to the aide. Trish Turner, ABC News, 23 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'selective service.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of selective service was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near selective service

Cite this Entry

“Selective service.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective%20service. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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