- of or characterized by selection
- tending to choose carefully or characterized by careful choice
- occurring at, operating at, or capable of separating out a particular frequency or band of frequencies
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
se•lec•tive /sɪˈlɛktɪv/USA pronunciation
adj. of or relating to a few chosen items; not general:selective enforcement of the laws.
se•lec•tive•ly, adv.: The police seem to enforce the traffic laws selectively.
se•lec•tiv•i•ty /sɪlɛkˈtɪvɪti/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- choosing carefully:is a selective shopper.
se•lec•tiv•i•ty /sɪlɛkˈtɪvɪti/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
se•lec•tive
(si lek′tiv),USA pronunciation adj.
se•lec′tive•ly, adv.
se•lec′tive•ness, n.
- having the function or power of selecting;
making a selection. - characterized by selection, esp. fastidious selection.
- of or pertaining to selection.
- Electricity, Radio and Televisionhaving good selectivity.
- select + -ive 1615–25
se•lec′tive•ness, n.
- 2. . discriminating, particular, discerning.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
selective /sɪˈlɛktɪv/ adj
'selective' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
bonsai
- chromatography
- dialysis
- eugenics
- gas chromatography
- selectivity
- vocabulary
- zeolite
- albuterol
- attention
- bensulide
- bibliography
- breeding
- circular dichroism
- dalapon
- diphenamid
- diquat
- discography
- domestic animal
- eclectic
- 4-F
- Hershey
- information overload
- mask
- nuclear magnetic resonance
- particular
- promiscuous
- resorption
- tarpan
- terbutaline
- trifluralin
- tumbler
- unimproved
- yohimbine
- selective service
- Selective Service System
- selective transmission
- simazine
- specificity
- SSS