selective

/səˈlɛktɪv/
adjective
  1. Choosing only the best or most suitable items or people; careful about what or who you choose.
    • A selective buyer will compare prices before making a purchase.
    • She is selective about the movies she watches, preferring documentaries.
    • The university is very selective and accepts only the top applicants.
  2. Involving the selection of particular items or people, often excluding others.
    • The company uses a selective hiring process to find the best candidates.
    • Selective logging removes only certain trees, leaving the forest mostly intact.
    • The selective breeding of dogs has produced many different breeds.
  3. Operating or affecting only certain parts or aspects; not general.
    • The herbicide is selective for broadleaf weeds and does not harm grass.
    • The drug is selective, targeting only cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.
    • Selective memory means he remembers only the good times and forgets the bad.
What does "selective" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean