selection

[si-lek-shuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of selecting or the state of being selected; choice.

   Antonyms: rejection

2. a thing or a number of things selected.

   Synonyms: pick, gathering, collection

3. an aggregate of things displayed for choice, purchase, use, etc.; a group from which a choice may be made.

   The store had a wide selection of bracelets.

4. Biology.,  any natural or artificial process that results in differential reproduction among the members of a population so that the inheritable traits of only certain individuals are passed on, or are passed on in greater proportion, to succeeding generations.

5. Linguistics.

   1. the choice of one form instead of another in a position where either can occur, as of ask instead of tell or with in the phrase ask me.

   2. the choice of one semantic or syntactic class of words in a construction, to the exclusion of others that do not occur there, as the choice of an animate object for the verb surprise.

selection

/ sɪˈlɛkʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of selecting or the state of being selected

2. a thing or number of things that have been selected

3. a range from which something may be selected

   this shop has a good selection of clothes

4. biology the natural or artificial process by which certain organisms or characters are reproduced and perpetuated in the species in preference to others See also natural selection

5. a contestant in a race chosen as likely to win or come second or third

6. 1. the act of free-selecting

   2. a tract of land acquired by free-selection

Other Word Forms

• selectional adjective
• nonselection noun
• reselection noun
• superselection noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of selection¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin sēlēctiōn-, stem of sēlēctiō; equivalent to select + -ion

Example Sentences

Court documents describe a kickback scheme operating for years that influenced the selection of wines available in the grocery chain’s stores.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was very clear very quickly that it was a highly volatile selection of items," she told prosecutor Timothy Sapwell.

From BBC

The eight-time Pro Bowl selection remained upbeat in the immediate aftermath of the injury, joking around with teammates and smiling and gesturing to the Miami crowd as he was carted off the field.

From Los Angeles Times

BBC Sport and Getty Images present a selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days:

From BBC

Its stores are known for their colourful selection of hair bands, earrings, jewellery, and occasionally for toys such as slime and fluffy collectables.

From BBC

Related Words

• choice 
• collection 
• draft 
• election 
• excerpt 
• option 
• pick