selectivity
gb/sɪlˌɛktˈɪvəti/ us/sɪlˌɛktˈɪvəti/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
property
1
tendency to choose carefully
how careful and strict someone is when choosing things
Usage pattern:
selectivity in [choosing/selection]
Common mistake:
Do not use selectivity to mean the act of choosing itself (selection). It means how strict or careful the choosing is.
Synonyms
choosiness (More informal and often slightly negative.)
|
discrimination (Can mean careful judgment, but may be confused with unfair treatment.)
Antonyms
indiscrimination (Choosing without careful distinction.)
|
openness (Willingness to accept many options rather than being strict.)
Collocations
high selectivity
|low selectivity
|greater selectivity
|increased selectivity
|a level of selectivity
|consumer selectivity
|selectivity in hiring
|selectivity in dating
|selectivity in friendships
|selectivity about food
Themes
daily_life
|decision_making
Examples
- As she got older, her selectivity about who she spent time with increased.
- The job market is improving, but employers still show strong selectivity.
- His selectivity comes from wanting the best value, not from being rude.
Learner examples
- I don’t have much selectivity when I’m hungry.
- The store’s selectivity about suppliers is very strict.
Noun
formal
C1
property
2
difficulty of getting accepted
how hard it is to get into a school, program, or job
Usage pattern:
the selectivity of [a school/program/company]
Common mistake:
Selectivity is not the same as quality; a very selective school is hard to enter, but the word itself only describes how strict acceptance is.
Synonyms
competitiveness (Focuses on how many people compete, not strictly on acceptance decisions.)
|
exclusivity (Emphasizes being restricted or limited, sometimes for social reasons.)
Antonyms
open admissions (A policy of accepting most or all applicants who meet basic requirements.)
|
accessibility (Emphasizes ease of entry rather than strictness.)
Collocations
college selectivity
|school selectivity
|program selectivity
|admissions selectivity
|institutional selectivity
|selectivity rate
|highly selective
|increasing selectivity
|selectivity has risen
|selectivity in admissions
Themes
education
|work
|business
Examples
- The university’s selectivity has increased as applications have grown.
- They chose the program partly because of its selectivity and reputation.
- Websites often compare colleges by graduation rates and selectivity.
Learner examples
- This school has high selectivity.
- The program’s selectivity is very low this year.
Noun
technical
C1
property
3
preference for one option over others
in science, how well something affects only one thing and not others
Usage pattern:
selectivity for [a target]/selectivity toward [a target]
Common mistake:
In technical writing, selectivity is close to specificity, but selectivity often implies comparison among multiple possible targets or outcomes.
Synonyms
specificity (Often used in biology/medicine; emphasizes being specific to a target.)
|
preference (More general; less precise and less technical.)
Antonyms
nonspecificity (Acting broadly rather than on one target.)
|
nonselectivity (Lack of preference among targets or outcomes.)
Collocations
high selectivity
|low selectivity
|target selectivity
|receptor selectivity
|sensor selectivity
|catalyst selectivity
|product selectivity
|selectivity for oxygen
|selectivity toward a receptor
|improve selectivity
Themes
science
|technology
|medicine
Examples
- The new drug shows strong selectivity for the intended receptor.
- Engineers improved the sensor’s selectivity so it ignores background signals.
- The catalyst’s selectivity determines how much of the desired product is formed.
Learner examples
- This test has better selectivity.
- The medicine has selectivity for one receptor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
selectivity
IPA
GB/sɪlˌɛktˈɪvəti/
US/sɪlˌɛktˈɪvəti/
Syllables & stress
se - lectiv - ity (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: selectivity
- Plural: selectivities, selectivity
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.