selective

1 of 2

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by selection : selecting or tending to select

2

: highly specific in activity or effect

selective pesticides

selective absorption

selectively adverb

selectiveness noun

selectivity

sə-ˌlek-ˈti-və-tē 

ˌsē-

noun

selectiveness

2 of 2

noun

se·​lec·​tive·​ness

-tivnə̇s, 

-tēv- also -təv-

plural -es

: the act or process of being selective

Synonyms of selective

Adjective

• particular
• choosy
• picky
• nice

Examples of selective in a Sentence

Adjective

The club is selective in choosing members.

The college has a highly selective admissions process.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The results arrive at a time when the broader auction market has shown signs of growing more selective. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 July 2026

Almost all of them are highly selective, and Davidson College is no exception. — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026

Spectrally selective films block infrared heat and UV rays while allowing a large percentage of visible light to pass through. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026

These are precisely the kinds of enrollment strategies that have fueled application growth at other highly selective institutions. — Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing selective

• selective breeding
• selective estrogen receptor modulator
• selective memory
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• selective service

Rhymes for selective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective

Kids 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 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by selection : selecting or tending to select

2

: highly specific in activity or effect

selective pesticides

selective permeability of a plasma membrane

selectively adverb