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

Lawndale long opposed the project, but recently backed a second alternative route that would run along Hawthorne. —Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2023

Despite the foundering of the rPET work, 150 engineers are still employed there working on alternative initiatives, the company says. —WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023

The Haynie family is hoping their rice mill can be counted among those alternative sources. —Chandelis Duster, CNN, 30 Sep. 2023

In a city brimming with daily newspapers, The Voice found its niche as an alternative newsweekly in the bohemian culture of Greenwich Village, where another weekly, The Villager, had been publishing since the 1930s. —Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2023

Someone sent me an article in a law journal that was using School of Rock as an example of alternative teaching styles. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2023

On the margins, many more artists were angling for attention in the suddenly very crowded alternative landscape. —Al Shipley, Spin, 28 Sep. 2023

Jackson, Wyoming Jackson Hole is home to not just one of the best ski resorts in the country but also Bridger-Teton National Forest, which offers plenty of alternative winter fun. —Perri Ormont Blumberg, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2023

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

Noun

Try to keep your calm in the face of adversity and watch how much better and brighter the alternative is for you. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2023

Feeling moist and sticky is much better than the alternative—death by heat stroke. —WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023

The streamers will need to find alternatives to the commercial break. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Sep. 2023

Interest in an alternative ran high, much to the benefit of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023

There are plenty of alcohol-free alternatives to soothing nerves and travel anxiety. —Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2023

And, over a quarter (28%) said they’d be swayed by subsidies or on-site alternatives for childcare or eldercare, which is probably unsurprising given the national average price of childcare is around $10,600 annually and the rapidly approaching childcare cliff fall-off. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2023

Food that is fortified is also a good source, including milk and milk alternatives, like soy or almond milk. —Laura Hensley, Verywell Health, 28 Sep. 2023

But with far-right lawmakers opposing any stopgap funding bill, neither of those proposals — nor a more conservative-leaning alternative proposed by Speaker Kevin McCarthy — has enough Republican votes to pass the House. —Kayla Guo, New York Times, 28 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

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

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

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