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

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Etymology

Origin of alternative

First recorded in 1580–90; alternate + -ive

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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

Unions vowed to push ahead on the banned route, citing safety concerns over the alternative.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026

Police said the roads were expected to remain closed for some time and advised drivers to find alternative routes.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Falling for a bespoke arrangement of code remains a novel concept for most people, but it’s also an accessible alternative to isolation.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, he writes in “Farewell to Russia,” is remarkable for its stray dogs and the “cloying smell of propane,” an alternative to gasoline.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

“If you do persist in going—and we hope you won’t—we have no alternative except to arrest you,” the police superintendent said.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

China revenue was down 50% on year as new Chinese alternatives “eliminate profitability for legacy” brands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

In China, the market for "legacy premium brands is in severe decline due to intense competition from new Chinese alternatives, basically eliminating profitability for legacy premium brands," the chief executive said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

“This reflects a broader shift toward couples embracing alternatives to traditional wedding jewelry and prioritizing personal preferences over convention,” Skurnik said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The team also examined what might happen when ultra-processed foods were replaced with less processed alternatives.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 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

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Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute

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