selective

1 of 2

adjective

se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
Synonyms of selectivenext
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 How to pronounce selective (audio)
ˌsē-
noun

selectiveness

2 of 2

noun

se·​lec·​tive·​ness
-tivnə̇s, 
-tēv- also -təv-
plural -es
: the act or process of being selective

Synonyms of selective

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of selective in a Sentence

Adjective The club is selective in choosing members. The college has a highly selective admissions process.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Broadly speaking, luddites are those opposed to new technologies, while selective luddites embrace technology on their terms. — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The results suggest that buyers remain highly selective rather than indiscriminately bullish. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 30 June 2026 Alito’s insistence on ignoring the possibility of someone using a pretext to engage in racial discrimination is actually quite selective. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 While tailoring will always remain important, consumers are becoming much more selective, prioritizing versatility and comfort over elaborate styling. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for selective

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of selective was in 1625

Phrases Containing selective

Rhymes for selective

See All Rhymes for selective

Browse Nearby Words

selection value
selective
selective absorption
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

selective

adjective
se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
: of or relating to selection : selecting or tending to select
selective shoppers

Medical Definition

selective

adjective
se·​lec·​tive sə-ˈlek-tiv How to pronounce selective (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on selective

Nglish: Translation of selective for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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