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
This is a misleading and selective retelling.
—
Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Scholars of comparative authoritarianism have long identified the selective application of harsh criminal penalties as a hallmark of illiberal governance.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Researchers studied her cells by cultivating them in a laboratory and saw indications of a selective advantage, with healthy skin cells favored over diseased ones.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
And with the assistance of Iain Biggart, the former chief stalker of the Knoydart Foundation who serves as a liaison between the Henkels and the community, deer numbers are down through selective management.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Scholars of comparative authoritarianism have long identified the selective application of harsh criminal penalties as a hallmark of illiberal governance.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Researchers studied her cells by cultivating them in a laboratory and saw indications of a selective advantage, with healthy skin cells favored over diseased ones.
—Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
And with the assistance of Iain Biggart, the former chief stalker of the Knoydart Foundation who serves as a liaison between the Henkels and the community, deer numbers are down through selective management.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 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 9 Apr. 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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