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selective

adj.
US //səˈɫɛktɪv// UK //sɪlˈɛktɪv// se·lec·tive
  1. 1 choosy or careful (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    being very careful about what you choose and only picking the best or most suitable things.

    characterised by careful discrimination or fastidiousness when making a choice.

    Example

    He is very selective about the people he invites to his private parties.

    Example

    The university is highly selective, admitting fewer than ten percent of applicants each year to maintain its academic standards.
  2. 2 affecting only some things (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    affecting only some things or people and not others.

    operating on or affecting only certain specific items or individuals within a group.

    Example

    The drug is selective and only attacks the sick cells in the body.

    Example

    The new herbicide offers selective weed control, destroying invasive species without harming the surrounding wheat crop.
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  1. 3 relating to natural selection (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    relating to the way nature chooses which animals or plants survive.

    pertaining to the process of natural or artificial selection in a biological context.

    Example

    Selective breeding has helped farmers produce cows that give more milk.

    Example

    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'
Word family

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