selective Synonyms & Antonyms
Choose a meaning, then find a word that fits your sentence.
Selective as an Adjective
Of or relating to the process of selection.
Of or relating to natural selection.
selective pressure
Choosy, fussy or discriminating when selecting.
He's very selective and spent hours in the store choosing a new shirt.
Having the authority or capability to make a selection.
In the USA, military conscription is controlled by the Selective Service.
Of or relating to the social work approach called selectivity.
(of a person) choosy, fussy or discriminating when selecting.
He's very selective and spent hours in the store choosing a new shirt.
Selective in a Sentence
selective pressure
He's very selective and spent hours in the store choosing a new shirt.
In the USA, military conscription is controlled by the Selective Service.
Word Forms & Grammar
selective (comparative more selective, superlative most selective)
Words That Rhyme With Selective
Origin of Selective
.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box{width:90%;margin:0.75em auto;border-width:1px;border-style:dashed;padding:0.25em}body.skin-vector-2022 .mw-parser-output .maintenance-box>table td p:last-of-type{margin-bottom:0.25em}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-image-cell{padding:0 0.5em}.mw-parser-output .request-box{margin:0.75em 1em 0.75em 1em;border:1px dashed var(--border-color-base,#999999);padding:0.25em;background:var(--background-color-base,#FFFFFF)}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .request-box table{margin-top:0.25em;margin-bottom:0.25em}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-blue{background-color:var(--wikt-palette-indigo-2,#E6E6FF);border:1px dashed var(--wikt-palette-indigo-9,#000061)}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-red{background-color:var(--wikt-palette-red-2,#FFE6E6);border:1px dashed var(--wikt-palette-red-9,#610000)}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-yellow{background-color:var(--wikt-palette-yellow-2,#FFFFE6);border:1px dashed var(--wikt-palette-yellow-9,#616100)}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-grey{background-color:var(--wikt-palette-grey-2,#F2F2F2);border:1px dashed var(--wikt-palette-grey-9,#303030)}.mw-parser-output .maintenance-box-orange{background-color:var(--wikt-palette-orange-2,#FFF2E6);border:1px dashed var(--wikt-palette-orange-9,#612F00)}(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Selective at a Glance
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /səˈlɛktɪv/ |
| Meaning | Of or relating to the process of selection |
| Comparative / superlative | more selective, most selective |