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

Since then, not much has changed — except for sluggish traffic across the industry as consumers have become more selective about their dining choices. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026

Florida International University is a massive public institution with a reputation for helping low- and middle-income students get ahead and the University of Miami is a selective private institution with a major medical research component. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026

The finding adds to a series of federal actions against University of California admissions that have focused on highly selective law and medical schools. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Interest rate uncertainty changed deal economics, financing became more selective and regulatory and geopolitical uncertainty made large commitments harder to justify. — Rusty Wiley, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 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