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

Enforcement should address speech codes, discriminatory security fees, selective recognition of student groups, and administrative acquiescence in the heckler’s veto. — Ilya Shapiro, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

The most noteworthy of these developments is the introduction of oral SERDs (selective estrogen receptor degraders). — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 6 Nov. 2026

Informal ones have looser requirements and can be pruned once or twice a year with selective thinning and trimming by hand. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026

Capital markets 'more selective' CoreWeave and Nebius are both scheduled to report quarterly results next week. — Jordan Novet,seema Mody, CNBC, 6 Nov. 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