# selectivity

/sɪˌɫɛkˈtɪvəti/ (US) · /sɪlɪktˈɪvɪti/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/selectivity
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

the ability of a chemical process to produce only one specific result while ignoring others. It describes how well a reaction chooses its target.

For teachers: the capacity of a chemical reaction or process to produce a specific product or effect while excluding others. Often used in the context of catalysis or analytical chemistry to describe the precision of a reaction pathway.

## Examples

- The new catalyst shows high selectivity for the desired product.
- Researchers are working to improve the selectivity of the enzyme to ensure it only binds to the target molecule and not to similar ones.
- In industrial chemistry, the selectivity of a reaction determines the economic viability of a process, as lower selectivity often results in significant waste and the need for costly purification steps.

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