selectively

IPA/sɪˈlektɪvli/
KK[səlˈɛktɪvli]IPA/sɪˈlektɪvli/

selectively — adverb

1. in a manner where someone deliberately picks certain people, items, or pieces of

1.adverbB2
Definition

in a manner where someone deliberately picks certain people, items, or pieces of information out of a wider set, while purposefully ignoring or setting aside the rest.

Example

Talia selectively applied the cream only to the sunburned areas of her arms.

selectively + only + specific area

The admissions team selectively invited candidates who had scored above ninety percent.

selectively + invited + criterion

Common collocations
  • selectively apply
  • selectively invite
  • selectively share
  • selectively remember
  • selectively target
  • selectively use
Synonyms
  • discriminatingly

    more formal; often implies refined taste or careful judgement in quality

  • preferentially

    suggests giving special favour or advantage to certain choices over others

  • prudently

    emphasises caution and wise risk avoidance in the choice

  • discerningly

    formal; implies deep understanding and excellent judgement

Antonyms
  • indiscriminately

    without any careful choice, criteria, or distinction

  • randomly

    without intention or pattern; not guided by a conscious decision

  • uniformly

    applying the same treatment to all, without picking and choosing

Usage Note

Subject is typically a person, group, or organization making a deliberate choice from a larger set. Often paired with verbs such as apply, invite, share, remember, or target — the criterion used for selection is usually stated nearby (e.g., 'only the best students', 'based on test scores').

Common Mistakes

The shop selectively sells only shoes.
The shop exclusively sells only shoes.
selectively implies choosing some items from a group; exclusively means limiting to one category with no range to choose from.
Rain fell selectively over the city yesterday.
Rain fell only over the northern part of the city yesterday.
selectively requires an intentional chooser; weather is not a conscious agent.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

While selectively, discriminatingly, preferentially, and prudently all describe choosing with awareness, they differ in emphasis and register. Selectively is the most neutral and broadly used, simply indicating that some options were chosen and others were not, based on a conscious decision. Discriminatingly carries a stronger connotation of good taste or refined standards, often applied to contexts of art, food, or quality assessment. Preferentially implies that selected items received special favour or advantage over others, sometimes in a systematic or even unfair way. Prudently focuses on caution and wise judgement in the choice, emphasising risk avoidance. For example: 'The committee selectively interviewed candidates from all backgrounds' (neutral sorting). 'She discriminatingly chose the ripest fruit at the market' (refined taste). 'Scholarships were awarded preferentially to students from low-income families' (special advantage). 'He prudently selected a more cautious investment plan' (wise caution).

selectively ↗discriminatingly ↗preferentiallyprudently

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Formed within English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to selective (adjective). Selective was formed in the 1600s from select (verb), which comes from Latin seligere 'to choose out,' made up of se- 'apart' and legere 'to gather or choose.' The adverb selectively has been in use since the 1600s, carrying the same core idea of choosing apart from others.