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
But the negative stereotypes persisted, which Levine attributes to selective readings of the New Testament and a lack of knowledge of first-century Jewish history.
—
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
In a brief filed in the Supreme Court case, the UC system said the change led to a precipitous drop in underrepresented minorities, especially at the system’s most selective campuses.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Funds are allocated both through selective and automatic criteria.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Asparagus is a perennial plant in many growing zones, so be selective about using it as a companion plant.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 6 May 2026
In a brief filed in the Supreme Court case, the UC system said the change led to a precipitous drop in underrepresented minorities, especially at the system’s most selective campuses.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Funds are allocated both through selective and automatic criteria.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Asparagus is a perennial plant in many growing zones, so be selective about using it as a companion plant.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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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