Word
selective
Phoneticsse·lec·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈɫɛktɪv/
UK/sɪlˈɛktɪv/
Definitions
01choosy or careful
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. being very careful about what you choose and only picking the best or most suitable things.
adj. characterised by careful discrimination or fastidiousness when making a choice.
“He is very selective about the people he invites to his private parties.”
“The university is highly selective, admitting fewer than ten percent of applicants each year to maintain its academic standards.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02affecting only some things
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. affecting only some things or people and not others.
adj. operating on or affecting only certain specific items or individuals within a group.
“The drug is selective and only attacks the sick cells in the body.”
“The new herbicide offers selective weed control, destroying invasive species without harming the surrounding wheat crop.”
03relating to natural selection
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. relating to the way nature chooses which animals or plants survive.
adj. pertaining to the process of natural or artificial selection in a biological context.
“Selective breeding has helped farmers produce cows that give more milk.”
“Environmental changes created a selective pressure that favoured individuals with thicker fur during the prolonged cooling period.”
Usage
often used in the phrase 'selective breeding' or 'selective pressure'
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “selective” in context.
Verb
01. be selective about the details
“You need to be selective about the details you include in your final report.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
02. become increasingly selective
“As the market grew more competitive, consumers became increasingly selective.”
verb + adv + adj
Adjective
03. highly selective
“The university has a highly selective admissions process, accepting only five percent of applicants.”
adv + adj
04. selective breeding
“Farmers use selective breeding to produce crops that are resistant to drought.”
adj + noun
05. selective memory
“He seems to have a selective memory, only recalling the events that make him look good.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. selective application of the law
“Critics argued that the selective application of the law targeted specific minority groups.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“No explanation is given for the selective memories that build the story, so we have no idea why one remembers something when the other doesn’t, or what prompts that memory to fade.” “One went on to a selective secondary school, and became the second black person to hold one of Britain’s great offices of state.” Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/selective