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 absorption

selectively adverb

selectiveness noun

selectivity

sə-ˌlek-ˈti-və-tē 

ˌsē-

noun

Synonyms of selective

• particular
• choosy
• picky
• nice

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

Even though all beat expectations for earnings per share and revenue, investors were selective with their rewards. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026

Continue reading … YUVAL DAVID – Hollywood’s selective silence on Iran exposes the lie of celebrity activism. —FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Students must apply and go through a selective screening process — only 20% are accepted, according to the website. —Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 28 Jan. 2026

The watches and jewelry division was a bright spot, with organic sales up 8 percent, while selective retailing maintained its momentum with a 7 percent increase. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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