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

The BBC says the move is part of wider cost-saving measures and alternative options are being explored.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned earlier Friday Europe did not have a readily available alternative.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

In acute situations, they turn to a more reliable alternative: gray trash bags.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

It needs an alternative that performs enough of its work reliably and economically to make shifting orders a realistic option.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

That made more sense to Aru than the alternative.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

For Nvidia investors, Maia raises a broader question: How much pricing power can a supplier retain when its biggest customers develop credible alternatives?

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

The girls had spent weeks adapting to the new rules and searching for acceptable alternatives to headscarves, said the teacher, who wished to remain anonymous.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

In May, Orbital raised $50 million to develop its new product: cooling systems that use more efficient, greener alternatives to the chemical cooling agents used in some data centers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

"Communications have been issued to healthcare professionals regarding the products affected, including advice on suitable alternatives that remain available," it said.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

The first and second officers may have been waiting for the captain to make decisions, but still may have been unwilling to pose alternatives.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

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Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute

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