English Meaning & Definitions
Relating to or characterized by the ability to select; tending to choose carefully or fastidiously.
- “She is very selective about the books she reads, only choosing those with high critical acclaim.”
- “The university has a highly selective admissions process that accepts only the top one percent of applicants.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “selective”.
Derived from the Latin 'selectus', the past participle of 'seligere' (to choose out), which is a combination of 'se-' (apart) and 'legere' (to gather or choose). It entered English in the early 17th century, originally referring to the act of picking or choosing carefully.
Think of a 'select' group of people who are very picky about who they let in.
Frequently Asked Questions About “selective”
1. What is the meaning of “selective” in English?
In English, selective (adjective) is defined as: “Relating to or characterized by the ability to select; tending to choose carefully or fastidiously.”.
2. How do you use “selective” in a sentence?
“She is very selective about the books she reads, only choosing those with high critical acclaim.”
3. What are English synonyms of “selective”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “selective”?
Derived from the Latin 'selectus', the past participle of 'seligere' (to choose out), which is a combination of 'se-' (apart) and 'legere' (to gather or choose). It entered English in the early 17th century, originally referring to the act of picking or choosing carefully.
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