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
Despite revenue declines, adjusted EBITDA improved from -€94 million last year to -€90 million in 2025, thanks to selective store closures and tighter cost control.
—
Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Gideon also earned a spot on CSUF’s Moot Court, a highly selective team where students compete in mock Supreme Court-style hearings.
—Jenelyn Russo, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
But his legal team teed up at least one argument expected to be invoked, with defense lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald saying attorneys would argue that the prosecution is vindictive and selective and would ask prosecutors to save communications relevant for that motion.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The board granted the awards to a deliberately selective group that Meta believes is critical to its AI ambitions.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Gideon also earned a spot on CSUF’s Moot Court, a highly selective team where students compete in mock Supreme Court-style hearings.
—Jenelyn Russo, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
But his legal team teed up at least one argument expected to be invoked, with defense lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald saying attorneys would argue that the prosecution is vindictive and selective and would ask prosecutors to save communications relevant for that motion.
—Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
The board granted the awards to a deliberately selective group that Meta believes is critical to its AI ambitions.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 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 1 May. 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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