Alternative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv/ al·ter·na·tive

Meaning & Definition of Alternative

Alternative (adjective)

  1. offering or expressing a choice
  2. different from the usual or conventional
  3. existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system

Alternative (noun)

  1. a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen
  2. an opportunity for deciding between two or more courses or propositions
  3. one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen

Alternative (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the power, right, or opportunity to choose

    "there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination"

    similar: choice, discretion, druthers (dialect), election, liberty, option, pick, preference, selection, volition, way
    related: determination, free will, will, say, voice, vote, inclination, liking, partiality, penchant, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency, discernment, judgment, perspicacity
    near: coercion, duress, force, duty, obligation, Hobson's choice

Alternative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in alternate, chosen

    similar: alternate, chosen, discretionary, elective, optional, voluntary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted
    opposite: compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, nonvoluntary, obligatory, required, essential, indispensable, necessary, requisite

  2. as in unconventional, underground

    similar: antiestablishment, nontraditional, unconventional, underground, pioneering, revolutionary, trailblazing, bizarre, far-out, outré, way-out, advanced, avant, avant-garde, cutting-edge, progressive, state-of-the-art, fresh, new, novel, original, strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented, contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, ultramodern, up-to-date
    opposite: conventional, customary, established, orthodox, traditional

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Alternative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Alternative:

Dialect: druthers
choice, discretion, election, liberty, option, pick, preference, selection, volition, way, alternate, chosen, discretionary, elective, optional, voluntary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, antiestablishment, nontraditional, unconventional, underground, pioneering, revolutionary, trailblazing, bizarre, far-out, outré, way-out, advanced, avant, avant-garde, cutting-edge, progressive, state-of-the-art, fresh, new, novel

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Alternative

Words with the opposite meaning of Alternative:

compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, nonvoluntary, obligatory, required, essential, indispensable, necessary, requisite, conventional, customary, established, orthodox, traditional

Related Words for Alternative

determination, free will, will, say, voice, vote, inclination, liking, partiality, penchant, predilection, proclivity, propensity, tendency, discernment, judgment, perspicacity

Near Antonyms of Alternative

coercion, duress, force, duty, obligation, Hobson's choice

Word Forms of Alternative

Derived words: alternatively (adverb), alternativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Alternative

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 alternate:1

First known use: 1540

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Alternative

Words & Phrases Containing Alternative

alternative country, alternative energy, alternative fuel, alternative medicine, alternative minimum tax, alternative music, alternative pop, alternative rock

Frequently Asked Questions about Alternative

What does "Alternative" mean?

"Alternative" means offering or expressing a choice. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: offering or expressing a choice. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Alternative"?

Other words for "Alternative" include choice, discretion, druthers, election, liberty, option, pick and preference. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Alternative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Alternative"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Alternative". Common alternatives include choice, discretion, druthers, election, liberty, option, pick, preference, selection and volition.

What is the opposite of "Alternative"?

Antonyms of "Alternative" include compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, nonvoluntary, obligatory, required, essential and indispensable. Near antonyms include coercion, duress, force and duty.

How do you use "Alternative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Alternative" in a sentence: "there's no alternative: we must cross the stream to reach our destination".

Is "Alternative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Alternative" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Alternative" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Alternative" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Alternative"?

"Alternative" is pronounced /ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as al·ter·na·tive.