selectivity

The quality of being selective, or extent to which something is selective.

Noun

  1. The quality of being selective, or extent to which something is selective.
    • […] while music was known to have scientific qualities — harmony, Pythagorean proportional relationship, etc. — it was the musician who by his selectivity made these proportions beautiful, […] - 1984, Art International,...
    • “We must stop conflating selectivity with excellence. We must stop correlating prestige with privilege,” he said. - 2022 September 12, Deidre McPhillips, “Critiques mount around popular annual college rankings”, in CNN:

    Synonyms: discernment

  2. The ability of a radio receiver to separate a desired signal frequency from others.
  3. Discrimination of a reactant towards a choice of other reactants; the ratio of rate constants for different reactants.
  4. An approach to social work that prioritizes people perceived as having the most need for assistance.
    • Proponents of selectivity herald its cost effectiveness; instead of resources being spread over a vast population, money or services can be used where they are most needed. This can help fill in the gaps between needy...

Origin

Etymology tree English selective Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English selectivity From selective + -ity.

Forms

selectivities

Related

selectiveness

Derived

atroposelectivity cardioselectivity chemoselectivity electroselectivity enantioselectivity hepatoselectivity isoselectivity monoselectivity neuroselectivity nonselectivity periselectivity phosphoselectivity photoselectivity regioselectivity stereoselectivity torquoselectivity unselectivity