selective

See also: sélective

English

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

selective (comparative more selective, superlative most selective)

Of or relating to the process of selection.
- 2016, Xingming Sun, Alex Liu, Han-Chieh Chao, Cloud Computing and Security: Second International Conference, ICCCS 2016, Nanjing, China, July 29-31, 2016, Revised Selected Papers (part 2, page 579)
  The selective algorithm excludes the redundant classifiers to construct a streamlined ensemble learning.
- 2025 April 10, Adam Serwer, “The Confrontation Between Trump and the Supreme Court Has Arrived”, in The Atlantic:
  Justice John Roberts and his colleagues have deployed a selective proceduralism to avoid directly confronting the Trump administration, one that contrasts with their alacrity in cases where they are seeking their preferred outcome.
(biology) Of or relating to natural selection.
selective pressure
(of a person) Choosy, fussy or discriminating when selecting.
He's very selective and spent hours in the store choosing a new shirt.
(chiefly US, not comparable) 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.
- 2006, Francis J. Turner, Encyclopedia of Canadian Social Work, page 189:
  Eligibility criteria form the essence of selective programs and individuals are evaluated using a means test.

of or pertaining to the process of selection

of or relating to natural selection

choosy, fussy or discriminating when selecting