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

WSJ | Buy Side: These men’s linen pants have breathable fabric, making them an easy summertime alternative to heavy denim and chinos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

This may prove to be the coercive factor that finally gives Putin no alternative but to come to the negotiating table and end the war.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

On Friday, Grafton told BBC Scotland News that with the benefit of hindsight and information that was not available on the day of the meeting, an alternative decision could have been taken.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

“The court reporters the court has on staff are off doing felony trials,” making electronic recording the only alternative for most civil litigants.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

Even if the zeros at the center of black holes don’t provide an easy way to travel through space, the zero of quantum mechanics provides an alternative: the zero-point energy might be the ultimate fuel.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute