Selektive

Selektive is a term used in several languages to express the property of being selective. It functions as an adjective formed from the root select and the suffix -ive, similar to the English word selective. The word is used to describe processes, criteria, or capacities that involve choosing among alternatives or filtering input.

Origin and variations: The concept derives from Latin selectivus, via French sélectif and English. In some orthographies, particularly those that render k for certain sounds, the form selektive appears as the standard spelling. In languages that use the c spelling, the form is typically select-ive. The exact spelling therefore varies by language, but the underlying idea is shared: selectivity.

Fields of use: The notion of selectivity appears in biology (selective pressures, selective breeding), medicine (selective toxicity), psychology (selective attention), chemistry (selective reactions), and information technology (selective sampling, filtering). The common thread is criteria-based filtering.

Usage guidance: Because "selektive" is not standard English, its use should be limited to texts in languages that standardize that spelling. In English-language writing, "selective" is preferred, and the meaning will be clear from context.

See also: selectivity, selective attention, selective toxicity.