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alternative definition

al·ter·na·tive (ôl tʉr′nə tiv, al-)

adjective

  1. providing or being a choice between two or among more than two things alternative routes
  2. designating or of an institution, enterprise, etc. that appeals to unconventional or nontraditional interests an alternative school

Etymology: ML alternativus: see alternate

noun

  1. a choice between two or among more than two things
  2. either or one of the things to be chosen
  3. something remaining to be chosen is there an alternative to going?

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

alternative Synonyms

alternative

n.

  1. A choice between things

    option, choice, dilemma; see choice 1.

  2. A thing to be chosen

    option, choice, remaining choice, Plan B*; see option 1. See syn. study atchoice.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

alternative Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • suggest: We will contact you at the earliest opportunity to suggest an alternative or refund.

Adjective modifier

  • viable: Up until now, there has been no viable alternative.

Modifies a noun

  • route: An alternative route would be to have a company pension scheme owning the property.

Noun used with modifier

  • cash: The prizes cannot be modified and there are no cash alternatives.
alternative usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

alternative quotes

Life.Consider the alternative.

-McLuhan, (Herbert) Marshall

   What being a Christian means, at the very least, is that whenever there is a decision to be made, which may be several times a day, an alternative should not be discarded simply because it is sacrificial.

-Peck, M(organ) Scott

I think in retrospect that all those 'alternative'modes of living were little more than exercises in arrested development.

-Self,Will

alternative quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"alternative." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/alternative>

APA Style

alternative. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/alternative

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