choice
- an act or instance of choosing; selection: Her choice of a computer was made after months of research. His parents were not happy with his choice of friends.
- the right, power, or opportunity to choose; option: The child had no choice about going to school.
- the person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen: This book is my choice. He is one of many choices for the award.
- an alternative: There is another choice.
- an abundance or variety from which to choose: a wide choice of candidates.
- something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something: Mare's Nest is the choice in the sixth race.
- a carefully selected supply: This restaurant has a fine choice of wines.
- a choice grade of beef.
- worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.
- carefully selected: choice words.
- (in the grading of beef in the U.S.) rated between prime and good.
- of choice, that is generally preferred: A detached house is still the home of choice.
Origin of choice
Synonyms
See more synonyms for choice on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
Examples from the Web for choicest
Contemporary Examples
Still another teased out the choicest bits from a new e-book Spitzer just published on how to police Wall Street.
He ate only the choicest foods and loved the fatty cut of tuna known as toro.
Historical Examples
He had a brilliant mind, and said the choicest things with a horse laugh.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
It did seem as if the choicest fruit always came to her specked.
Southern Lights and ShadowsVarious
This was a retired spot, not of the choicest kind, leading into the fields.
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens
Let the choicest dainties be heaped together in unbounded profusion.
ImogenWilliam Godwin
“He is here,” he repeated gravely, and the words were couched in his choicest accents.
Once to Every ManLarry Evans
choice
- the act or an instance of choosing or selecting
- the opportunity or power of choosing
- a person or thing chosen or that may be chosenhe was a possible choice
- an alternative action or possibilitywhat choice did I have?
- a supply from which to selecta poor choice of shoes
- of choice preferred; favourite
- of superior quality; excellentchoice wine
- carefully chosen, appropriatea few choice words will do the trick
- vulgar or rudechoice language
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for choicest
choice
n.
mid-14c., "that which is choice," from choice (adj.) blended with earlier chois (n.) "action of selecting" (c.1300); "power of choosing" (early 14c.), "someone or something chosen" (late 14c.), from Old French chois "one's choice; fact of having a choice" (12c., Modern French choix), from verb choisir "to choose, distinguish, discern; recognize, perceive, see," from a Germanic source related to Old English ceosan "to choose, taste, try;" see choose. Late Old English chis "fastidious, choosy," from or related to ceosan, probably also contributed to the development of choice. Replaced Old English cyre "choice, free will," from the same base, probably because the imported word was closer to choose [see note in OED].
choice
adj.
"worthy to be chosen, distinguished, excellent," mid-14c., from choice (n.). Related: Choiceness.
Idioms and Phrases with choicest
choice
see by choice; Hobson's choice; of choice; pays your money and takes your choice. Also see under choose.