selective
selective — adjective
1. choosing only the people, items, or experiences that match your own high standar
choosing only the people, items, or experiences that match your own high standards, and turning down others that do not meet those standards
Kwame is selective about the films he watches — he only sees documentaries and award-winning dramas.
selective about + noun phrase for careful choice
Young children are often selective eaters and may refuse any food that looks unfamiliar.
selective eater: common collocation for food preferences
Reema became more selective about which clients she accepted after starting her own firm.
The restaurant uses selective sourcing, buying only organic vegetables from local farms.
At the weekend market, Ayesha is selective — she passes six stalls before buying a single bunch of herbs.
- picky
more informal and slightly negative; suggests being difficult to please rather than having high standards
- choosy
informal; like picky but slightly milder in tone
- discerning
more formal and positive; suggests good judgment and taste
- particular
emphasises attention to detail; can apply to any specific requirement
- undiscriminating
formal; describes someone who accepts everything without judging quality
- indiscriminate
often negative; suggests a lack of careful thought in choosing
文法句型
selective + about + noun phrase
selective + in + noun phrase
selective + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'about' (selective about what you choose) or 'in' (selective in your choices). The pattern 'selective + noun' (selective eater, selective memory, selective breeding) is common in both everyday and technical contexts.
常見錯誤
2. describing a school, college, or university that admits students based on academ
describing a school, college, or university that admits students based on academic performance or test results, rather than accepting all applicants
Harper passed the entrance exam and gained a place at a highly selective grammar school.
highly selective: intensifier with school context
The university's selective admissions process accepts fewer than one in ten applicants each year.
selective admissions: attributive noun pattern in education
Critics argue that selective education systems widen the gap between wealthy and poor students.
Lucas applied to several selective colleges but worried his grades might not be high enough.
Talia applied to the University of Tokyo, one of Japan's most selective schools, and felt thrilled when accepted.
- competitive
focuses on the difficulty of getting in; can apply to programs as well as schools
- exclusive
more about status and cost; not necessarily based on academic merit
- restricted
more general; simply means places are limited
- comprehensive
UK-specific; a comprehensive school accepts all children regardless of ability
- open-access
describes a school or programme that admits any qualified applicant
文法句型
selective + school / college / university / system / process
gradable: highly / very / extremely + selective
用法筆記
Primarily used in British English education contexts. The term usually appears before a noun (attributive position). 'Selective school' contrasts with 'comprehensive school' (which accepts all students regardless of ability). Not typically used for US public schools, though 'selective college/university' is used in both US and UK contexts.