alternative

American  

[awl-tur-nuh-tiv, al-] / ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl- /

noun

• alternatives
  plural

1. 

   a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility.

   You have the alternative of riding or walking.

   Synonyms:

   selection, option

2. one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen.

   The alternative to riding is walking.

3. a possible or remaining course or choice.

   There was no alternative but to walk.

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adjective

1. affording a choice of two or more things, propositions, or courses of action.

2. (of two things, propositions, or courses) mutually exclusive so that if one is chosen the other must be rejected.

   The alternative possibilities are neutrality and war.

3. employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment.

   an alternative newspaper; alternative lifestyles.

4. Logic. (of a proposition) asserting two or more choices, at least one of which is true.

alternative British  

/ ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv /

noun

1. a possibility of choice, esp between two things, courses of action, etc

2. either of such choices

   we took the alternative of walking

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adjective

1. presenting a choice, esp between two possibilities only

2. (of two things) mutually exclusive

3. denoting a lifestyle, culture, art form, etc, regarded by its adherents as preferable to that of contemporary society because it is less conventional, materialistic, or institutionalized, and, often, more in harmony with nature

4. logic another word for disjunctive

Synonym Usage

See choice.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• alternativeness
  noun
• alternativity
  noun
• quasi-alternative
  adjective
• alternatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• alternatives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alternative

First recorded in 1580–90; alternate + -ive

Explanation

When you're facing a fork in the road, you have two possibilities, or alternatives. You could take the left fork and see where it leads, or you could choose the path that goes to the right. Whenever there is an alternative, it involves a choice. A wealthy student has the choice of going to a public school, or the alternative, a private school. Alternative can also refer to a different way of doing things, outside the norm. You might say that a hermit who lives in remote a cave with a pet turtle is living an alternative lifestyle.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alternative alternatives

"We are trying to find alternative means, maybe not as effective as the US technology, but at least to be able to maintain our independence, to be able to continue to work," said Niang.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Medicare Advantage is the private-plan alternative to traditional Medicare.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

Donating to alternative institutions benefits everyone who cares about higher education.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

But while both of these things are better than the alternative for any party leader, they are not the same as being popular.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

I tried to pick which shrubbery planted near the side of the structure might benefit from some alternative methods of watering.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

But none are being produced affordably at scale, and the alternatives often lack the nutrients that support the growth of farmed fish.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

That decision, they said, would focus on binding agreements like one towards electrification -- replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels directly, like diesel cars and gas heating, with electric alternatives.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the company to really look at strategic alternatives seriously,” Rogers said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

"If the government is to cut the Youth Parliament there should be reasons and there has to be alternatives, even if the funding is tight," Aman Fatima, MYP for Essex, told BBC Politics East.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

He thought through every course and considered all alternatives.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute