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

Secondly a feasible alternative course of action must have been available . . . third . . . the policy in question should be that of a group, not an individual leader.

From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2026

SDF offers an alternative for many of these patients because it can be applied quickly without the equipment and procedures required for a traditional filling.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

But he says it’s better than the alternative — forgetting it’s there and reaching up to scratch or rub his face.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

France's Eutelsat, with its OneWeb internet service, is the main alternative - but it only has about 600 active satellites, compared to Starlink's 10,000-plus.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

“We couldn’t conceive of any alternative to what we were doing.”

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

The commenter had spent considerable time walking delivery workers through specialty aisles and negotiating alternatives, an especially frustrating undertaking when dietary restrictions were involved.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026

There are a few alternatives, but they are all lagging behind Starlink, which is the world's largest satellite constellation.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 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

Even at lower prices, car makers will have to confront young consumers who are looking for alternatives to ownership.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

This means that scientists, although they may not be aware of it, are never obliged to adopt any particular theory: there are always alternatives that would work as well, indeed, for all we know, better.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute

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