selection

noun

sə-ˈlek-shən How to pronounce selection (audio)
Definition of selectionnext
1
as in choice
the act or process of selecting his selection of a running mate was a long, tedious affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in bet
a person or thing that is chosen our selection was the third entrant in the dog show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in option
the power, right, or opportunity to choose the inn's table d'hôte is excellent, but there's very limited selection

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sampling
a number of things selected from a group to stand for the whole a selection of the company's latest line of products for display at the trade show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun selection contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of selection are alternative, choice, election, option, and preference. While all these words mean "the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen," selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

When is it sensible to use alternative instead of selection?

While the synonyms alternative and selection are close in meaning, alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

When is choice a more appropriate choice than selection?

The synonyms choice and selection are sometimes interchangeable, but choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

When would election be a good substitute for selection?

The words election and selection can be used in similar contexts, but election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

In what contexts can option take the place of selection?

The words option and selection are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

When can preference be used instead of selection?

In some situations, the words preference and selection are roughly equivalent. However, preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of selection For kids, that translates into build-your-own flatbreads with a selection of antipasti and charcuterie. —Alli Forde, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025 Each week the Charlotte Observer will present a selection of images that document communities. —The Pham, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2025 Meanwhile, Haliburton has emerged as a star, garnering two All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selections while leading the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals and now the NBA Finals. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025 Their selection always includes highly sophisticated and distinctive films that have broadened my cinematic horizons. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for selection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for selection
  1. choice
  2. bet
  3. option
  4. sampling
  5. election
  6. sample
Noun
  • The amount of sun and the exposure in your garden should be key factors in making your plant choices.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • That’s life, and that something that also drove our artistic choices to a heartwarming visual style, retaining proximity with our main character throughout her ups and downs that also manifest in the film’s palette.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 8 June 2025
Definition of choice
Noun
  • Some people can fix the problem themselves by using a wet/dry vacuum, in addition to other steps; if that sounds daunting, your best bet might be enlisting an HVAC professional, Weitz advises.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2025
  • SailGP is working with gaming companies DraftKings in the United States and Bet365 internationally to let fans place bets on races, starting at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 7 and 8.
    — Harriet Taylor, CNBC, 2 June 2025
Definition of bet
Noun
  • With its future coverage options limited, Michigan State created a captive insurance company, Lysander Series, to provide general liability coverage.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2025
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Steer clear of open fields, hilltops, or ridge tops.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2025
Definition of option
Noun
  • But this team continues to groove to a tune that includes some heavy sampling from its past.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 8 June 2025
  • Even direct soil sampling is unreliable, as carbon levels swing with rainfall.
    — Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of sampling
Noun
  • The primary, on June 24, is considered the defining contest of the election, given the district’s heavy Democratic bent.
    — Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Musk later slipped in a jab, suggesting that Trump and the Republicans could never have prevailed in last year’s elections without the $288 million that Musk spent to put them over the top.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
Definition of election
Noun
  • Tickets for the cooking challenge are $70 per person and include three drinks on top of the competition samples and other bites from Mulvaney’s, according to the organizers.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • The sample size for Turner is a slash line of .268/.326/.366 in 44 at-bats.
    — Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Definition of sample

Browse Nearby Words

selecting
selection
selections
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Selection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/selection. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on selection

Nglish: Translation of selection for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about selection

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