C1adjectiveeducationwork
US/səˈlek.tɪv/
UK/sɪˈlek.tɪv/
careful about choosing only the best or most suitable people or things
In context
The university is highly selective and accepts fewer than ten percent of applicants.
She is very selective about the films she agrees to appear in.
The report gave only a selective account of what had happened.
Words that go with selective
adverb + adjective
- highly selectiveEntry to the program is highly selective.
- extremely selectiveThe club is extremely selective.
adjective + preposition
- selective aboutBe selective about what you share online.
- selective inThe company is selective in its hiring.
adjective + noun
- selective memoryHe has a selective memory about the argument.
- selective schoolShe won a place at a selective school.
- selective attentionSelective attention helps us ignore background noise.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
selective withCorrect: selective about