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

• particular
• choosy
• picky
• choosey
• 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

Electric trucks from Volvo Trucks, supported by material transport, are enabling fully emission-free operations from selective gutting through to concrete crushing, materials processing, and transport. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025

On the one hand, the selective outrage is unsurprising. —Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Göring is a frighteningly intelligent individual with very selective blindness. —Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025

Finally, selective colleges are asking applicants to articulate their sense of purpose. —Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

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