selective
adjective
se·lec·tive
sə-ˈlek-tiv 
2
: highly specific in activity or effect
selective pesticides
selective absorption
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
Producing pigment is metabolically costly, so when the selective pressure of sunlight disappears, fungi that disable the pathway save energy and gain a growth advantage.
—
New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
In light of these changes, the pressures created by the declining population of graduating seniors may actually create a more competitive admissions landscape at selective institutions.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
He’s known to be quite selective.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Chicago Bears first-year head coach Ben Johnson was highly selective when deciding which team's head-coaching job was actually worth leaving his role as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
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New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
In light of these changes, the pressures created by the declining population of graduating seniors may actually create a more competitive admissions landscape at selective institutions.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
He’s known to be quite selective.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Chicago Bears first-year head coach Ben Johnson was highly selective when deciding which team's head-coaching job was actually worth leaving his role as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 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 27 Sep. 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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