selective
adjective
se·lec·tive
sə-ˈlek-tiv 
2
: highly specific in activity or effect
selective pesticides
selective absorption
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 Black List and WIF have announced the participants for the 2025 Episodic Lab.
Seven up-and-coming television writers have been chosen for the selective and intensive Lab, which is now in its ninth year.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Moreover, while Ivy Plus schools and top-tier institutions can easily attract these students, less selective colleges struggle to compete.
—Scott White, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Like Trump, Biden mostly ignored the slow and selective process created by Congress in 1865 to guide presidents in their exercise of this unique constitutional authority.
—Bill Hamilton, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
Unlike isolationism, restraint does not imply withdrawal from global affairs but rather advocates a more selective and strategic approach.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
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Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Moreover, while Ivy Plus schools and top-tier institutions can easily attract these students, less selective colleges struggle to compete.
—Scott White, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Like Trump, Biden mostly ignored the slow and selective process created by Congress in 1865 to guide presidents in their exercise of this unique constitutional authority.
—Bill Hamilton, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
Unlike isolationism, restraint does not imply withdrawal from global affairs but rather advocates a more selective and strategic approach.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for selective
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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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