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. Compare natural selection, sexual selection, kin selection, artificial selection.
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 Words From

• se·lection·al adjective
• nonse·lection noun
• rese·lection noun
• super·se·lection 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

The lawsuit against Riverside Unified describes a conflict over trans athletes that erupted after coaches made their selections for which runners would participate in a high-profile cross-country meet earlier this fall.

From Los Angeles Times

We've put together a selection of your pictures showcasing the weather around the UK, all sent into us through the BBC's Weather Watchers group.

From BBC

The selection ends what has proven to be one of the more protracted decisions for the president-elect as he assembles his team for a second term.

From BBC

By borrowing the idea of directed evolution, a technique used in both chemistry and biology that mimics the process of natural selection, the researchers combined precision with rapid output to achieve their ideal lipid "recipe."

From Science Daily

Ryanair was accused of violating a range of consumer rights, including charging for larger carry-on luggage, seat selection, and asking for "a disproportionate amount" to print boarding passes at terminals.

From BBC

Related Words

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