alternative

al·ter·na·tive  (ôl-tûrn-tv, l-)

n.

1.

a. The choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities.

b. A situation presenting such a choice.

c. Either of these possibilities. See Synonyms at choice.

2. Usage Problem One of a number of things from which one must be chosen.

adj.

1. Allowing or necessitating a choice between two or more things.

2.

a. Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems: an alternative lifestyle.

b. Espousing or reflecting values that are different from those of the establishment or mainstream: an alternative newspaper; alternative greeting cards.

3. Usage Problem Substitute or different; other.

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al·terna·tive·ly adv.

Usage Note: Some traditionalists hold that alternative should be used only in situations where the number of choices involved is exactly two, because of the word's historical relation to Latin alter, "the other of two." Despite the word's longstanding use to mean "one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen" and the acceptance of this usage by many language critics, a substantial portion of the Usage Panel adheres to the traditional view, with only 49 percent accepting the sentence Of the three alternatives, the first is the least distasteful.·Alternative is also sometimes used to refer to a variant or substitute in cases where there is no element of choice involved, as in We will do our best to secure alternative employment for employees displaced by the closing of the factory. This sentence is unacceptable to 60 percent of the Usage Panel.·Alternative should not be confused with alternate. Correct usage requires The class will meet on alternate (not alternative) Tuesdays.

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alternative

Noun

1. a possibility of choice between two or more things

2. either or any of such choices

Adjective

1. presenting a choice between two or more possibilities

2. of a lifestyle etc. that is less conventional or materialistic than is usual

alternatively adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	alternative - 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" option, choice deciding, decision making - the cognitive process of reaching a decision; "a good executive must be good at decision making" obverse - the more conspicuous of two alternatives or cases or sides; "the obverse of this issue" druthers, preference - the right or chance to choose; "given my druthers, I'd eat cake" default option, default - an option that is selected automatically unless an alternative is specified possible action, possibility, opening - a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility" impossible action, impossibility - an alternative that is not available Hobson's choice - the choice of taking what is offered or nothing at all soft option - an easier alternative; "the instructor took the soft option and gave the boy a passing grade"
Adj.	1.	alternative - serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan" alternate, substitute secondary - being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams"
	2.	alternative - necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities; "alternative possibilities were neutrality or war" disjunctive - serving or tending to divide or separate
	3.	alternative - pertaining to unconventional choices; "an alternative life style" unconventional - not conventional or conformist; "unconventional life styles"

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alternative

noun 1. substitute, choice, other, option, preference, recourse

adjective 2. different, other, substitute, alternate

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See: variant.

Translations

alternative [ɔlˈtəːnətɪv] adj → alternativo

n → alternativa

alternative [ɔlˈtəːnətɪv] adj [solution, plan] → autre, de remplacement; [energy] → doux(douce); [lifestyle] → parallèle

n (= choice) → alternative f (= other possibility); autre possibilité f;

alternative medicine → médecine alternative, médecine douce

alternative [ɔlˈtəːnətɪv] adj → alternativ;

(solution etc) → Alternativ-

n → Alternative f

alternative [ɔlˈtəːnətɪv] adj [solutions] → alternativo/a; [solution] → altro/a

n (= choice) → alternativa (= other possibility); altra possibilità

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alternative

adj alternative [oːlˈtəːnətiv]

offering a choice of a second possibility An alternative arrangement can be made if my plans don't suit you.alternatiefبَدِيلалтернативенjinýalternativalternativεναλλακτικόςalternativoalterna- tiivneدیگر؛ ثانویvaihtoehtoinenautreחֲלוּפִיवैकल्पिकalternativnialternatívalternatifsem um er að velja, annar (kostur)alternativo代りの대신의, 양자 택일의alternatyvusalternatīvs; izvēles-pilihan lainalternatiefalternativalternatywnyalternativoaltальтернативныйalternatívnydrugačenalternativanannan, alternativ-สำรองbaşka, öbür, alternatif可供替換的альтернативнийمتبادل طور پرcó thể lựa chọn可供替换的

n

a choice between two (or sometimes more) things or possibilities You leave me no alternative but to dismiss you; I don't like fish. Is there an alternative on the menu?alternatief, ander keuseخَيار بَيْن إثْنَينизборjiná možnostalternativ; valgdie Alternativeεναλλακτική λύσηalternativavalikuvõimalusچاره؛ گزینهvaihtoehtoalternativeחֲלוּפָה, בְּרֵרָהविकल्पalternativaválasztás(i lehetőség)alternatifvalkosturalternativa二者択一양자 택일, 대안alternatyva, kitas pasirinkimasalternatīva; izvēlepilihanalternatiefvalg, alternativalternatywa, inna możliwośćalternativaalter­nativăальтернативаiná možnosť(druga) izbiraalternativaalternativ, valทางเลือก兩者挑一альтернатива, вибірمتبادلsự lựa chọn两者挑一

adv alˈternatively

alternatiewelikبِصُورَة بَدِيلَهалтернативноjinak, neboalternativtanderenfallsεναλλακτικάo bien, alternativamenteteisel juhulمتناوباًvaihtoehtoisestisinon, ou bienלְחֲלוּפִיןविकल्पत:alternativnovagylagosanbergantianannars, að öðrum kostialternativamente選択的に양자 택일하여, 달리arbaalternatīvidengan plihan lainandersalternativtw przeciwnym wypadkudoutro mododacă nu, în locальтернативноalebodrugače, sicer paalternativnoalternativtโดยมีทางเลือกyoksa, aksi halde兩者挑一地альтернативноباری باری ، متبادل طور پرnhư một sự lựa chọn两者挑一地