choice

[ chois ]

/ tʃɔɪs /

noun

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.

adjective, choic·er, choic·est.

worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.

carefully selected: choice words.

(in the grading of beef in the U.S.) rated between prime and good.

Nearby words

chocolatier, choctaw, choctawhatchee, chog, chogyal, choice, choir, choir loft, choir school, choirboy, choirgirl

Idioms

of choice, that is generally preferred: A detached house is still the home of choice.

Origin of choice

1250–1300; Middle English chois < Old French, derivative of choisir to perceive, choose < Germanic; see choose

SYNONYMS FOR choice

9 select, rare, uncommon, valuable, precious.

Related forms

choice·less, adjectivechoice·ly, adverbchoice·ness, nounpre·choice, noun

Synonym study

2. Choice, alternative, option, preference all suggest the power of choosing between things. Choice implies the opportunity to choose: a choice of evils. Alternative suggests that one has a choice between only two possibilities. It is often used with a negative to mean that there is no second possibility: to have no alternative. Option emphasizes free right or privilege of choosing: to exercise one's option. Preference applies to a choice based on liking or partiality: to state a preference. 9. See fine¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for of choice

choice

/ (tʃɔɪs) /

noun

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

adjective

of superior quality; excellentchoice wine

carefully chosen, appropriatea few choice words will do the trick

vulgar or rudechoice language

Derived Forms

choicely, adverbchoiceness, noun

Word Origin for choice

C13: from Old French chois, from choisir to choose

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with of choice (1 of 2)

of choice

Preferred above others, as in A strike is the union's weapon of choice. Used with other prepositions (by, for, with), all meaning “by preference,” this idiom dates from about 1300.

Idioms and Phrases with of choice (2 of 2)

choice

see by choice; Hobson's choice; of choice; pays your money and takes your choice. Also see under choose.

choice

noun

adjective, choic·er, choic·est.

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of choice

SYNONYMS FOR choice

Related forms

Synonym study

British Dictionary definitions for of choice

choice

noun

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for choice

Idioms and Phrases with of choice (1 of 2)

of choice

Idioms and Phrases with of choice (2 of 2)

choice