selective
adjective
se·lec·tive
sə-ˈlek-tiv 
2
: highly specific in activity or effect
selective pesticides
selective absorption
Synonyms of selective
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
Asked about now-unavailable data and information, a spokesman for Kennedy said the premise of the Associated Press’ inquiry was flawed and relied on selective and inaccurate characterizations.
—
Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The group plans to continue following a highly selective approach to M&A, while sustaining capital discipline, Puig said.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, is the sort of highly selective institution that jockeys for the unofficial title of Harvard of the South.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
In 2026, China’s luxury sector is more selective, rational, and emotionally discerning than ever.
—Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The group plans to continue following a highly selective approach to M&A, while sustaining capital discipline, Puig said.
—Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, is the sort of highly selective institution that jockeys for the unofficial title of Harvard of the South.
—Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
In 2026, China’s luxury sector is more selective, rational, and emotionally discerning than ever.
—Yiling Pan, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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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