adj
Common
selective
suh-LEHK-tihv
Selective (adj) means choosing carefully rather than accepting everything or everyone. Example: “He is very selective about the books he buys, so his shelves are small.”
adj
1
Choosing carefully rather than accepting everything or everyone.
"He is very selective about the books he buys, so his shelves are small."
"The university is highly selective, admitting only a small fraction of applicants."
"She's very selective about who she lets into her inner circle."
2
Affecting or targeting only certain things rather than all of them.
"The council took selective action, fixing only the roads that were in the worst condition."
"Selective weeding keeps the flowers but removes the grass from the garden path."
"The drug works through selective action on specific receptors."
How to use selective
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCareful and choosy about what or who is accepted, or narrowly targeted rather than blanket in effect.
Common pairings
highly selective
selective about
selective breeding
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like selective.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more selective
- Superlative
- most selective
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He is very _____ about the books he buys, so his shelves are small.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for selective
See all rhymes for selective →Frequently asked questions
What does “selective” mean?
The word “selective” means choosing carefully rather than accepting everything or everyone. In plain terms, careful and choosy about what or who is accepted, or narrowly targeted rather than blanket in effect.
How do you pronounce “selective”?
“Selective” is pronounced suh-LEHK-tihv (/səˈlɛktɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “selective” in a sentence?
Here is “selective” used in a sentence: “The university is highly selective, admitting only a small fraction of applicants.”
What part of speech is “selective”?
“Selective” is an adjective.
Is “selective” a common word?
“Selective” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “selective” have?
“Selective” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: choosing carefully rather than accepting everything or everyone.
What is the difference between selective and picky?
Both describe choosing carefully, but selective is fairly neutral and can sound discerning or high-standard. Picky is more informal and often mildly critical, suggesting someone is hard to please over small details.
What is the difference between selective and choosy?
They are close in meaning, both describing careful choice. Choosy is the more casual, conversational word, while selective is slightly more formal and is also used technically to mean affecting only certain things.
