alternative

[ awl-tur-nuh-tiv, al- ]

/ ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl- /

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noun

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.

one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen: The alternative to riding is walking.

a possible or remaining course or choice: There was no alternative but to walk.

adjective

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

(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.

employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment: an alternative newspaper; alternative lifestyles.

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

Nearby words

alternating voltage, alternating-gradient focusing, alternation, alternation of generations, alternation of heart, alternative, alternative conjunction, alternative curriculum, alternative energy, alternative fuel, alternative history

Also alternate (for defs 1–4, 6).

Origin of alternative

First recorded in 1580–90; alternate + -ive

SYNONYMS FOR alternative

1 option, selection.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alternative ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

al·ter·na·tive·ly, adverbal·ter·na·tive·ness, al·ter·na·tiv·i·ty, nounqua·si-al·ter·na·tive, adjectivequa·si-al·ter·na·tive·ly, adverb

Can be confused

alternate alternative

Synonym study

1. See choice.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alternative

It reminded me a bit of an alternative take on The Wolf of Wall Street—through the Toni and Candace lens.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Already, 10 Republicans have declared they will vote for an alternative candidate and more seemed poised to join.
Kamikaze Congress Prepares to Strike Boehner|Ben Jacobs|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And, if these alternative foods were indeed similar in food value to pine nuts, why are the bears not already wolfing them down?
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear|Doug Peacock|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I was growing up they called Green Day and Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins “alternative pop.”
The Rise of Jack Antonoff, the Taylor Swift Whisperer|Kevin Fallon|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The first Bleachers single went to number one in alternative and all the shows have been sold out lately.
The Rise of Jack Antonoff, the Taylor Swift Whisperer|Kevin Fallon|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We cannot say which alternative the builders would have chosen, and therefore we cannot determine the date of building.
Rough Stone Monuments and Their Builders|T. Eric Peet
But there was now no alternative but to await the return of the tapuyo, or the time that would tell he was never more to return.
Afloat in the Forest|Mayne Reid
But without cannon only the second alternative was possible, and the artillery did not arrive.
The War With Mexico, Volume I (of 2)|Justin H. Smith
The only alternative is the breaking up of the camps and the dispersal of the women.
The War in South Africa|Arthur Conan Doyle
Madame des Ursins could only escape by a prompt departure from the difficulties of such an alternative.
Political Women, Vol. 2 (of 2)|Sutherland Menzies

British Dictionary definitions for alternative

alternative

/ (ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv) /

noun

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

either of such choiceswe took the alternative of walking

adjective

presenting a choice, esp between two possibilities only

(of two things) mutually exclusive

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

logic another word for disjunctive (def. 3)

Derived Forms

alternatively, adverbalternativeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

alternative

noun

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of alternative

SYNONYMS FOR alternative

Related forms

Can be confused

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for alternative

British Dictionary definitions for alternative

alternative

noun

adjective

Derived Forms