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
District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a progressive Democrat whose campaign touted his record of filing lawsuits against Trump in the state attorney general’s office, pursued a manifestly selective prosecution.
—
Nr Editors, National Review, 31 May 2024
The 4-wheel independent suspension's selective damping automatically adjusts the shock absorbers individually based on the road surface for an incredibly smooth ride.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
The issue over selective enrollment schools revolves in part around school funding.
—Sarah MacAraeg, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2024
But since giving birth, she's been more selective about her projects.
—Emily Blackwood, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for selective 
Nr Editors, National Review, 31 May 2024
The 4-wheel independent suspension's selective damping automatically adjusts the shock absorbers individually based on the road surface for an incredibly smooth ride.
—PCMAG, 30 May 2024
The issue over selective enrollment schools revolves in part around school funding.
—Sarah MacAraeg, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2024
But since giving birth, she's been more selective about her projects.
—Emily Blackwood, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for selective
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'selective.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near selective
Cite this Entry
“Selective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/selective. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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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