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
The Ranch consists of a selective bunch of professionals that work seamlessly, cohesively together, allowing the Ranch to run efficiently for the guests who traveled from far and near to visit.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
But Barclays is staying selective in the sector, preferring Endeavour Mining and Hochschild as both stocks trade on cheaper multiples than Fresnillo , which the analysts say is more fully valued.
—Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 16 June 2026
As a trumpeter, Hershberger had been a member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony, a selective concert group based in Prairie Village, since 2011.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
As the Mayo Clinic explains, Duloxetine is a type of selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRIs) which works by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
But Barclays is staying selective in the sector, preferring Endeavour Mining and Hochschild as both stocks trade on cheaper multiples than Fresnillo , which the analysts say is more fully valued.
—Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 16 June 2026
As a trumpeter, Hershberger had been a member of the Kansas City Wind Symphony, a selective concert group based in Prairie Village, since 2011.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 15 June 2026
As the Mayo Clinic explains, Duloxetine is a type of selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRIs) which works by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 15 June 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 20 Jun. 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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