alternative

1 of 2

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv 

al-

1

: offering or expressing a choice

several alternative plans

2

: different from the usual or conventional: such as

a

: existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system

an alternative newspaper

alternative lifestyles

b

: of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to conventional rock and is typically influenced by punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk music

an alternative band

also : of, relating to, or being music of a genre other than rock that is similarly regarded as an alternative to the conventional music of that genre

alternative country

c

: of or relating to alternative medicine

alternative therapies

3

: occurring or succeeding by turns : alternate sense 1

alternatively adverb

alternativeness noun

alternative

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

a government facing the alternative of high taxes or poor highways

b

: an opportunity for deciding between two or more courses or propositions

the alternative of going by train or by plane

2

a

: one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen

The menu offered several vegetarian alternatives.

b

: something which can be chosen instead

The only alternative to intervention.

3

: alternative rock music

a fan of alternative

Synonyms

Noun

• choice
• discretion
• druthers [dialect]
• election
• liberty
• option
• pick
• preference
• selection
• volition
• way

Choose the Right Synonym for alternative

choice, option, alternative, preference, selection, election mean the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen.

choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Examples of alternative in a Sentence

Adjective

Scientists are developing an alternative approach to treating the disease.

He developed an alternative design for the new engine.

Noun

We decided to leave since our only other alternative was to wait in the rain.

I was offered no alternative.

The menu offered several vegetarian alternatives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But alternative wireless providers including Xfinity, Spectrum, Mint, Consumer Cellular, Boost Mobile and Google Fi use exactly the same mobile networks as Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile but charge you less. —Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023

That has led Moscow to desperately search for alternative sources to increase its stocks, most recently by trying to secure a weapons deal with North Korea, U.S. and Western officials said. —Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023

Analysts said this alliance could emerge as an alternative center of power that could challenge the West or at least Washington. —Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023

That has led Moscow to desperately search for alternative sources to increase its stocks, most recently by trying to secure a weapons deal with North Korea, US and Western officials said. —Eric Schmitt and, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2023

But some elements of embracing an alternative reality could definitely be helpful on the job. —Ursula Schmied, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2023

That could leave consumers scrambling to find alternative treatments for relief from nasal congestion and drugmakers hurrying to devise new drug formulations. Drugs like Sudafed, made by pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, are part of a roughly $2.2 billion market for oral decongestants. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Sep. 2023

The group also said that other effective alternative options would not be as easily accessible, a claim disputed by advisory committee members. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023

Helping farmers protect their crops and develop alternative income streams with bees has also earned conservationists the trust of otherwise resistant farmers. —Anthony Ham, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023

Noun

What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream is for those looking for a cable alternative with more channel options. —Josie Howell | [e-mail], al, 15 Sep. 2023

The anecdote stems from a dynamic prevalent not just in hip-hop but across art forms: the supposedly rigid dichotomy between the alternative and the mainstream. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2023

Still, there are other, more lasting alternatives for hotels. —Sofia Andrade, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023

With Trump’s likely absence, the second debate is once again setting up to be a clash among the party’s leading alternatives, none of whom seem positioned to mount a significant challenge to Trump. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2023

This cheaper alternative to the standard Elite Series 2 is essentially the same customizable controller, but additional accessories (like a charging case and extra sticks, D-pad, and rear paddles) have to be purchased separately. —Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2023

For iPhone owners who aren’t planning on upgrading right away but need new chargers, the most cost-effective alternative to buying another Lightning cable is to go wireless. —Brian X. Chen, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023

After cleansing, steaming her face, exfoliating and applying serum, Hudgens likes to cap off her routine with the vitamin C mask as a moisturizer alternative. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023

The purchase of a new residence would have been financed with private funds but regents, meeting in closed session, voted 13-7 against the proposal, according to board minutes, and will seek other alternatives to secure safe housing for Drake and his family. —Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French alternatif "occurring by turns, alternating," borrowed from Medieval Latin alternātīvus, from Latin alternātus, past participle of alternāre "to ebb and flow, act in alternation, arrange in alternating order" + -īvus -ive — more at alternate entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French & Medieval Latin; French alternative, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin alternātīva, noun derivative from feminine of alternātīvus "occurring by turns" — more at alternative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing alternative

• adult alternative
• alternative country
• alternative minimum tax
• alternative power
• alternative music
• alternative rock
• alternative school
• alternative pop
• alternative medicine
• alternative energy
• alternative fuel

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• adult alternative
• alternative country
• alternative minimum tax
• alternative power
• alternative music
• alternative rock
• alternative school
• alternative pop
• alternative medicine
• alternative energy
• alternative fuel

See More

Kids Definition

alternative

1 of 2 adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive ȯl-ˈtər-nət-iv 

 also  al-

1

: offering or expressing a choice

alternative plans

2

: being one of the things between which a choice is to be made : alternate

an alternative route

alternatively adverb

alternativeness noun

alternative

2 of 2 noun

1

: a chance to choose between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

the alternative of going by bus or car

2

: one of the things between which a choice is to be made

Medical Definition

alternative

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive ȯl-ˈtər-nət-iv, al- 

: of, relating to, or based on alternative medicine

alternative therapies

Legal Definition

alternative

1 of 2 adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv, al- 

1

: alternate sense 1

2

: offering or expressing a choice

an alternative contract

see also alternative pleading at pleading sense 1b

3

: existing or functioning outside the established system

also : different from the usual or conventional

alternative sentencing

alternative

2 of 2 noun

1

: a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

2

a

: one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen

b

: something which can be chosen instead