alternative

American  

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

noun

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

Related Words

See choice.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of alternative

First recorded in 1580–90; alternate + -ive

Example Sentences

These constraints have encouraged Iran to move toward alternative weapons platforms to replicate some of the same capabilities, including missiles and drones, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

One obvious alternative approach would be to try to pay for these costs using a lifetime income annuity, a contract with a life-insurance company that will pay you an income for life.

From MarketWatch

Remember, every one of these nimble little sporters you see on the road is displacing a larger, more lumbering alternative that could be drifting into your lane.

From The Wall Street Journal

Food retailers in Germany, Europe's largest market for plant-based alternative products, had spoken out against it, along with environmentalists and consumer advocates.

From Barron's

Aluminium Bahrain—which operates one of the world’s largest smelters—halted shipments due to shipping constraints in Hormuz and is now working to identify alternative solutions to meet delivery schedules.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute