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

Based on the designs and materials available during World War II, the researchers conclude that Nazi Germany lacked the resources necessary to make either its heavy water reactor or a graphite-based alternative operational.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Iran says this is "unauthorised" and insist vessels take an alternative route closer to its own shore.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

“The decision to enter livestock represents a significant competitive development, particularly as market participants evaluate execution costs, trading technology, liquidity, and alternative hedging opportunities,” says PJ Quaid of StoneX in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Gretchen Palek, head of alternative at Blumhouse Television, attributes the show’s success to the careful and sensitive approach to telling these terrifying experiences while highlighting real-life universal anxieties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

It is easy to eliminate an obvious alternative.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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

Fillol said her landlord refused to make repairs, telling her and the other tenants they would struggle to find affordable alternatives.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

Instead, Green and her husband sometimes choose alternatives, opting for ground turkey or ground chicken.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

The government added it hoped airports would "exercise restraint on rises, particularly where there are limited public transport alternatives".

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

So then I’d tell you about the other alternatives to help eliminate the pain.

From "Tears of a Tiger" by Sharon M. Draper

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Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute

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