Alternative Definition

ôl-tûrnə-tĭv, ăl-
alternatives
noun
alternatives
One of a number of possible choices or courses of action.
There are plenty of alternatives to conventional advertising.
American Heritage
A choice between two or among more than two things.
Webster's New World
A choice or course of action that is mutually exclusive with another.
The alternative to staying in that dead-end job is to quit.
American Heritage
Either or one of the things to be chosen.
Webster's New World
A situation presenting a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities.
People facing the alternative of selling their homes or going bankrupt.
American Heritage
adjective
Being one of a number of possible choices or courses of action.
The highway is closed. Seek alternative routes.
American Heritage
Providing or being a choice between two or among more than two things.
Alternative routes.
Webster's New World
Being one of two mutually exclusive choices or courses of action.
How effective is the alternative treatment?
American Heritage
Designating or of an institution, enterprise, etc. that appeals to unconventional or nontraditional interests.
An alternative school.
Webster's New World
Substitute or other.
Several members of the audience provided alternative views on the topic.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Alternative

Noun

Singular:
alternative
Plural:
alternatives

Origin of Alternative

  • From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternativus, from the participle stem of Latin alternāre (“to do by turns”). Compare alternate.

    From Wiktionary

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