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Definition of selective

selective

/səˈlɛktɪv/
se · lec · tive
Adverb:selectively
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selective Lexical Profile

selective Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Careful and discerning in choosing only the best or most suitable people or things; having high standards.

Example

"The university is highly selective and admits fewer than ten percent of all applicants."

2

Affecting, applying to, or involving only certain chosen things or individuals rather than all of them.

Example

"Critics accused the historian of having a selective memory regarding the controversial events."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for selective

• Nearby Words

select
selectable
selection
selective
selectively
selectiveness
selectivity

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 17th century from the Latin stem select- (from seligere, meaning 'to choose out' or 'to sort') combined with the adjective-forming suffix -ive.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Selective. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/selective
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