selective transmission: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “selective transmission” mean?
The deliberate, controlled, or partial passing on of something (information, disease, traits, power, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The deliberate, controlled, or partial passing on of something (information, disease, traits, power, etc.), involving choice or filtering.
Used broadly to describe processes in mechanics (gearboxes), biology (genetics), epidemiology, communication theory, and media studies, where not all potential elements are passed on; a curated or restricted transfer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical across domains. Spelling follows regional norms for 'transmission' (e.g., centre/center in related contexts).
Connotations
Identical in technical contexts. In social/political discourse, both may carry a negative connotation of 'withholding information'.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American engineering/automotive discourse due to market size, but equally common in professional/academic contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “selective transmission” in a Sentence
the selective transmission of [NOUN][NOUN] via selective transmissionselective transmission allows/enables/prevents [NOUN]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “selective transmission” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gearbox is designed to selectively transmit power to the wheels for optimal efficiency.
- The organisation was accused of selectively transmitting data to the regulator.
American English
- The system selectively transmits signals based on priority level.
- They were found to selectively transmit information to favored investors.
adverb
British English
- The data was transmitted selectively to avoid panic.
- Genes are transmitted selectively, not randomly.
American English
- The news was shared selectively with the press corps.
- Power is distributed selectively across the network.
adjective
British English
- The car features a new selective transmission system.
- We observed a selective transmission pattern in the cultural artefacts.
American English
- It's a selective-transmission gearbox. (Note common hyphenation in compound modifier)
- The study focused on selective transmission mechanisms in virology.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to sharing only certain information with specific stakeholders, e.g., 'The board practiced selective transmission of the financial forecasts.'
Academic
Common in genetics (inheritance of specific traits), sociology (cultural transmission), and communication studies.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used to describe gossip or family stories where details are omitted.
Technical
Core term in automotive engineering for a type of automatic gearbox, and in telecommunications for signal filtering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “selective transmission”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “selective transmission”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “selective transmission”
- Using 'selection transmission' (incorrect noun form).
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'They selective transmitted the news' (correct: 'They selectively transmitted...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word noun phrase, often hyphenated ('selective-transmission') when used as a compound modifier before another noun (e.g., a selective-transmission gearbox).
In automotive engineering, it refers to a type of automatic transmission system that intelligently selects gears based on driving conditions.
Yes, particularly in contexts like media, politics, or history, where it implies withholding information to manipulate understanding or control a narrative.
Both involve choice. 'Selective breeding' is about choosing organisms to mate to promote desired traits. 'Selective transmission' is broader, covering the chosen transfer of anything (information, traits, power). In genetics, selective transmission of genes is the result of processes that include selective breeding.
The deliberate, controlled, or partial passing on of something (information, disease, traits, power, etc.
Selective transmission is usually formal / technical in register.
Selective transmission: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈlɛktɪv trænzˈmɪʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈlɛktɪv trænzˈmɪʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The information passed down wasn't the full story; it was a case of selective transmission.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SELECTIVE service (like a bouncer choosing who enters a club) combined with a radio TRANSMISSION (sending a signal). The bouncer only lets certain signals through.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A FLUID. Selective transmission is a FILTERED PIPELINE or a SIEVE, allowing only chosen elements to pass.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'selective transmission' LEAST likely to be used?