Hobson's choice

noun

Hob·son's choice | \ˈhäb-sənz-

\

Definition of Hobson's choice

1 : an apparently free choice when there is no real alternative

2 : the necessity of accepting one of two or more equally objectionable alternatives

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about Hobson's choice

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Thomas Hobson worked as a licensed carrier of passengers, letters, and parcels between Cambridge and London, England. He kept horses for this purpose and rented them to university students when he wasn't using them. Of course, the students always wanted their favorite mounts, and consequently a few of Hobson's horses became overworked. To correct the situation, Hobson began a strict rotation system, giving each customer the choice of taking the horse nearest the stable door or none at all. This rule became known as Hobson's choice, and soon people were using that term to mean "no choice at all" in all kinds of situations.

Examples of Hobson's choice in a Sentence

He jokingly referred to dinner as a Hobson's choice between soup and salad or salad and soup.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Hobson's choice

Listen to Our Podcast about Hobson's choice

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near Hobson's choice

Hobson's choice

Statistics for Hobson's choice

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for Hobson's choice

The first known use of Hobson's choice was in 1649

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for Hobson's choice

Hobson's choice

noun

English Language Learners Definition of Hobson's choice

: a situation in which you are supposed to make a choice but do not have a real choice because there is only one thing you can have or do

See the full definition for Hobson's choice in the English Language Learners Dictionary

Comments on Hobson's choice

What made you want to look up Hobson's choice? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

acceptation

a generally accepted meaning of a word

Test Your Vocabulary

Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz

Which of the following Q-without-U words means the number five in cards or dice?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games