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
Still, such coverage is selective, and opportunities are rare.
—
Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
In health care, an MOF can act like a selective sponge for specific breath molecules that indicate real, measurable diseases.
—Bohong Zhang, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
Her entire career is built on the selective prosecution of one man!
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Those include claims that the prosecutor who secured the charges wasn't legitimately appointed, that the prosecution is selective and vindictive, that the grand jury process was abusive, and that the government has behaved outrageously.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Cynthia Salarizadeh, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
In health care, an MOF can act like a selective sponge for specific breath molecules that indicate real, measurable diseases.
—Bohong Zhang, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025
Her entire career is built on the selective prosecution of one man!
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Those include claims that the prosecutor who secured the charges wasn't legitimately appointed, that the prosecution is selective and vindictive, that the grand jury process was abusive, and that the government has behaved outrageously.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 9 Oct. 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 17 Oct. 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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