Selective: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone carefully chooses the best or most suitable option or person, often in a positive or neutral sense.

• She is very selective about the books she reads

Refers to someone who is able to judge the quality of something with precision, often in a positive or sophisticated context.

• A discriminating wine lover, she can easily tell the difference between various vintages

Implies someone who is difficult to please and may reject many options before finding one they like. Often used in an affectionate or mildly critical way.

• He's quite choosy about the clothes he buys

Describes someone who pays attention to detail and has specific preferences. It can be positive but may sometimes imply fussiness.

• He's very particular about how his coffee is made

Carries a negative connotation, indicating that someone is overly fussy and difficult to satisfy.

• She’s so picky that it’s hard to cook a meal she likes

Repeated word in the input, thus already described above.

Used to describe the process of mating animals or plants for reproduction, often with the aim of developing or maintaining certain traits. Can be applied in both natural and controlled environments.

• The breeding of racehorses is a lucrative business.
• They are focusing on breeding plants that are resistant to disease.

Used in scientific and medical fields to describe the process of choosing specific genes or qualities to pass on to future generations. It is a precise term usually reserved for discussions on genetics or biotechnology.

• Genetic selection can help in eradicating hereditary diseases.
• Advancements in genetic selection technologies offer new possibilities for medical treatments.

Used in biological and agricultural contexts to describe the intentional breeding of plants or animals to produce desirable traits. It is a technical term often used in scientific discussions.

• Artificial selection has led to the development of many modern dog breeds.
• Farmers utilize artificial selection to produce crops with better yields.

Used when referring to the act of carefully choosing something based on certain criteria.

• She is very selective about the books she reads
• The college has a selective admissions process

Used when referring to something clearly defined or identified, often in detail.

• Can you give a more specific example? The instructions need to be very specific to avoid confusion

Used in a negative context when referring to unfair treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

• The company's hiring practices were found to be discriminatory
• He faced discriminatory treatment at the workplace

Used to describe something directed at a particular group, person, or objective, often with precision.

• The marketing campaign was targeted at teenagers
• The police conducted a targeted operation to catch the burglar