English Reference

Word

selection

Phoneticsse·lec·tion, stress on the second syllable

US/səˈɫɛkʃən/

UK/sɪlˈɛkʃən/

Definitions

01the act of choosing

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the act or process of picking someone or something from a group.

n. the process or act of choosing from a range of possibilities. Often used uncountably to describe the procedure itself.

“The selection of the final team took the coach several hours.”

“The selection of a new CEO is a rigorous process that involves multiple rounds of interviews and psychological assessments.”

Antonyms

02a range of options

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a variety of different things that you can choose from.

n. a collection or variety of items from which a choice may be made.

“The shop has a wide selection of fresh bread and cakes.”

“The boutique offers a curated selection of vintage clothing, catering to a niche market of fashion historians and collectors.”

03the chosen items

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. the specific person or thing that has been picked.

n. the specific individual or group of individuals that has been selected from a larger population.

“Her selection for the national choir was a dream come true.”

“The committee's final selection surprised many, as they opted for a relatively unknown candidate over the industry veteran.”

Synonyms

04natural selection

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Science Academic

n. the process where living things that are better suited to their environment survive and have babies.

n. the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. Often used as a shorthand for 'natural selection'.

“In biology class, we learned how selection helps animals change over time.”

“Darwinian selection remains the cornerstone of modern evolutionary biology, explaining the gradual diversification of species through environmental pressures.”

05computing/data

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a part of a document or a list of data that you have highlighted to work on.

n. a highlighted or specified set of data or text upon which a user operation is performed.

“You can copy your selection by pressing the right mouse button.”

“The software allows for the precise selection of pixels based on colour frequency, facilitating complex image manipulation.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “selection” in context.

Adjective

01. careful selection

“The careful selection of ingredients is what makes this restaurant's food so delicious.”

adj + noun

02. natural selection

“Darwin's theory explains how species evolve over time through the process of natural selection.”

adj + noun

03. random selection

“The participants for the study were chosen by random selection to ensure fair results.”

adj + noun

Real-World Examples

“Burgas and Sofia progressed to the final stage of the selection process following the initial bids, which also included Varna and Plovdiv.”
BBC News 13 Aug 2026
“A selection of the tube series photos is planned for display at the London Transport Museum in spring 2027.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026
“Members of the public sent in their pictures from around the country - here's a selection of some of the best shots.”
BBC News 13 Aug 2026
“The selection also avoids jokes that mock a specific group or feature characters identified with a particular ethnic group.”
The Guardian 12 Aug 2026

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin sēlēctiō (“the act of choosing out, selection”), from sēligō (“choose out, select”), from sē- (“apart”) + legō (“gather, select”). Equivalent to select + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Domains

BiologyLinguisticsProgramming

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference