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

Shipping data show regional crude exports actually exceeded prewar levels on several days in late September as alternative routes and logistical adjustments keep barrels moving, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Open models have emerged as a cheaper alternative to closed models.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

Gulf producers had pushed crude shipments back toward prewar levels using shuttle tankers and alternative export routes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Leaving a facility would mean the family has to take on all care responsibilities, as finding alternative placements is difficult.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

It’s an old song she snitched from her mother—British alternative, rising good energy, from the time of shoulder pads and big hair.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

However, a review has warned that closing them could cause increased congestion and noise on alternatives routes.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 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

Ariel said it believes Mattel should retain an independent financial advisory firm to explore strategic alternatives, which could include a divestiture of significant assets, a merger or an outright sale of the company.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

In the mid-1980s, the Victorian government launched a major restructure of the timber industry, and invested today’s equivalent of A$26 million to explore alternatives to clearfelling.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

“I’ll give you a few days to discuss, but I promise you will like the alternatives far less.”

From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed

Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute