alternative
adjective · noun
Simple meaning
About a choice between two or more possibilities.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
awlturnuhtivSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ɔlˈtɝnətɪv
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
adjective
Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
Other; different from something else.
Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground.
noun
A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.
One of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.
The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.
A non-offensive word or phrase that serves as a replacement for a word deemed offensive or unacceptable, though not as a euphemism.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner (estimated)
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- General English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
Used this way, alternative is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
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Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Word family
Words built from the same root.
An old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles).
In place of, or as an alternative to.
In an alternating sequence or position.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A method of childbirth that avoids intrusive high-tech medicine in favor of more natural and homely settings.
A method of childbirth that avoids intrusive high-tech medicine in favor of more natural and homely settings.
Energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment.
The practice of medicine without the use of drugs.
A pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely on.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: relating to a choice between two or more possibilities
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.