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

Etymology

Origin of alternative

First recorded in 1580–90; alternate + -ive

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

By developing more a cost-effective and reliable alternative to DNA analysis, the aim is to help tackle the illegal poaching and trafficking of wildlife.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Understanding whether alternative sweeteners truly offer a healthier metabolic outcome is therefore important.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

I have heard from haggard, decrepit millennials that it used to be different, that it used to be grungy and alternative.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

He says he is eligible to be transferred from prison to an alternative form of confinement under the First Step Act, the landmark 2018 criminal justice reform law.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

I started the previous section of this chapter by presenting two alternative views of science, and I have argued that both have merit.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

As Patti summarized it, "there is no free lunch" when searching for sugar alternatives, particularly when several metabolic pathways can ultimately lead toward liver dysfunction.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

Decades-in-the-making technologies are now becoming viable alternatives to outdated systems for cooling and power.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

"We need to seriously embrace other alternatives as well, like solar and wind. And for that we will need to revise our energy policy that is at the moment very pro-hydropower," he says.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Even if they want to ditch the industrial food products, healthier alternatives cost more -- and in poverty stricken areas of East Tennessee, that's a non-starter.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

He thought through every course and considered all alternatives.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• opportunity
• option
• substitute