What does Alternative mean?

Definitions for Alternative
ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl-al·ter·na·tive

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Alternative.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. option, alternative, choiceadjective

    one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen

    "what option did I have?"; "there no other alternative"; "my only choice is to refuse"

  2. alternate, alternative, substituteadjective

    serving or used in place of another

    "an alternative plan"

  3. alternativeadjective

    necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities

    "alternative possibilities were neutrality or war"

  4. alternativeadjective

    pertaining to unconventional choices

    "an alternative life style"

Wiktionary

  1. alternativenoun

    A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.

  2. alternativenoun

    One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.

  3. alternativenoun

    The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.

  4. alternativeadjective

    Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities

  5. alternativeadjective

    Not traditional (an alternative lifestyle)

  6. alternativeadjective

    Other

  7. Etymology: From alternatif, from alternativus, from the participle stem of alternare. Compare alternate.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Alternativenoun

    The choice given of two things; so that if one be rejected, the other must be taken.

    Etymology: alternatis, Fr.

    A strange alternative ————
    Must ladies have a doctor, or a dance? Edward Young.

ChatGPT

  1. alternative

    Alternative refers to one or more options or choices available as a substitute or replacement to the existing one. It generally denotes the possibility of choice between two or more things. In broader context, it can also represent unconventional or non-traditional method or approach towards a situation or problem.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Alternativeadjective

    offering a choice of two things

  2. Alternativeadjective

    disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction

  3. Alternativeadjective

    alternate; reciprocal

  4. Alternativenoun

    an offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left

  5. Alternativenoun

    either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives

  6. Alternativenoun

    the course of action or the thing offered in place of another

  7. Alternativenoun

    a choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among

  8. Etymology: [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.]

Wikidata

  1. Alternative

    Alternative is the compilation album by English synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys. It was first released in 1995. Alternative is a 2-disc set, consisting of 30 B-sides in chronological order. The title Alternative was a last-minute change from the title that had been long saved for such an album, Besides, but that title was taken by American rock band Sugar, who released their own B-sides compilation two months prior. Alternative only really gained popularity among devoted fans of Pet Shop Boys with the exception of the UK, where it entered the charts at #2. A remake of the original 7-inch "Paninaro" entitled "Paninaro '95" was released as a single in order to promote the 2-disc compilation. The cover of Alternative features photographs of Tennant and Lowe in fencing masks. The first copies of the CD have a lenticular image on the cover which shifts between the two photographs. Neil Tennant admitted in a radio interview with Absolute Radio that a second B-side album may be released in 2010. This materialised on 11 November 2011 when the duo announced through Varsity that they would release another B-sides album in February 2012 titled Format.

Editors Contribution

  1. alternative

    An equal choice.

    There is an alternative to their proposed wedding venue and they are creating a way to achieve it together easily.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 1, 2020  

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Alternative' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2036

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Alternative' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3251

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Alternative' in Nouns Frequency: #888

  4. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'Alternative' in Adjectives Frequency: #270

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce Alternative?

How to say Alternative in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of Alternative in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of Alternative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of Alternative in a Sentence

  1. Merrick Garland:

    The department does not take such a decision lightly, where possible, it is standard practice to seek less intrusive means as an alternative to a search and to narrowly scope any search that is undertaken.

  2. Thornton Wilder:

    For what human ill does dawn not seem to be alternative?

  3. Jeremy Snyder:

    Previous research has shown that crowdfunding is being used for unproven stem cell interventions and alternative cancer interventions. This paper builds on that research by confirming the existence these areas of concern and also demonstrating that this problematic fundraising is going on for HBOT for brain injury and antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, the public should know that their money may be wasted on ineffective treatments or even used for dangerous interventions that could harm the health of those they are seeking to help. If their aim is to help others, there are a variety of well run, science-based charities that very effectively help those in medical need.

  4. Thomas J. Watson:

    Solve it. Solve it quickly, solve it right or wrong. If you solve it wrong, it will come back and slap you in the face, and then you can solve it right. Lying dead in the water and doing nothing is a comfortable alternative because it is without risk, but it is an absolutely fatal way to manage a business.

  5. Glenn Youngkin:

    Last year, we saw radical politicians say that parents had no right to determine what was being taught in their children's classroom. Well, all of you, and many, many, many others across the Commonwealth of Virginia stood up and said, ‘ Enough. ’ You stood together, you stood together because we all recognized the core truth in our children's education, parents matter. That's what we concluded. ONE OF THE NATION ’S MOST VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS COZIES UP TO BIDEN FOR PENNSYLVANIA RALLY Youngkin recounted some of his legislative achievements, such as Senate Bill 656, which stated that if school materials are sexually explicit and parents do n’t agree with them, they can request an alternative set of materials. He cautioned though that, despite some progress, the fight against school boards and teachers unions was not over.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Alternative#1#1485#10000

Translations for Alternative

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"Alternative." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 12 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Alternative>.

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