ALTERNATIVE

alternative

(adjective) necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities; “alternative possibilities were neutrality or war”

alternative

(adjective) pertaining to unconventional choices; “an alternative life style”

alternate, alternative, substitute

(adjective) serving or used in place of another; “an alternative plan”

option, alternative, choice

(noun) one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen; “what option did I have?”; “there is no other alternative”; “my only choice is to refuse”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

alternative (not comparable)

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

(linguistics) Presenting two or more alternatives.

Synonym: disjunctive

Other; different from something else.

Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground.

(obsolete) Alternate, reciprocal.

Noun

alternative (plural alternatives)

A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities. [from 17th c.]

One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen. [from 17th c.]

The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted. [from 18th c.]

(uncountable, music) alternative rock

Synonyms

• See also option

Source: Wiktionary

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Al*ter"na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alternatif.]

1. Offering a choice of two things.

2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.

3. Alternate; reciprocal. [Obs.] Holland.

Al*ter"na*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.]

1. 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. There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence. Burke.

2. 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. Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another. If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis. With no alternative but death. Longfellow.

4. A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among. My decided preference is for the fourth and last of thalternatives. Gladstone.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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