alternation
noun
al·ter·na·tion
ˌȯl-tər-ˈnā-shən 
also ˌal-
1
a
: the act or process of alternating or causing to alternate
b
: alternating occurrence : succession
3
: the occurrence of different allomorphs or allophones
Examples of alternation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tweaks, shifts and slight alternations will continue through Thursday, tonight, when the restaurant officially reopens to the public.
—
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Contributing buildings are those that have architectural designs that provide the district its historic character, and thus are typically protected from demolition or substantial exterior alternations.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Similarly, in Tunisia, a 2016 law demanding the alternation of women and men on political parties’ candidate lists dramatically increased the number of women in local council positions; as a result, women now hold nearly 50 percent of local government positions, compared with 27 percent in 2010.
—Jamille Bigio, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
The name effectively captures the essence of the practice--a consistent alternation between two types of drinks over time, creating a visual pattern much like a zebra’s alternating, black-and-white stripes.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternation
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Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Contributing buildings are those that have architectural designs that provide the district its historic character, and thus are typically protected from demolition or substantial exterior alternations.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
Similarly, in Tunisia, a 2016 law demanding the alternation of women and men on political parties’ candidate lists dramatically increased the number of women in local council positions; as a result, women now hold nearly 50 percent of local government positions, compared with 27 percent in 2010.
—Jamille Bigio, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
The name effectively captures the essence of the practice--a consistent alternation between two types of drinks over time, creating a visual pattern much like a zebra’s alternating, black-and-white stripes.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternation
Cite this Entry
“Alternation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternation. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alternation
noun
al·ter·na·tion
ˌȯl-tər-ˈnā-shən
also ˌal-
1
: the act or process of alternating
2
: alternate position or occurrence : succession
3
: regular reversal in direction of flow
an alternation of an electric current
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