1
: careful to choose only the best people or things
He is very selective [=picky, choosy] about which tomatoes to use for the sauce.
The club is selective in choosing members.
The college has a highly selective admissions process.
2
: involving the selection of people or things from a group
selective breeding
She has a selective memory. [=she remembers only what she wants to remember]
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/selective. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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