alternative

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: al=ter=na=tive

CIDE DICTIONARY

alternative, a. [Cf. F. alternatif.].

•  Offering a choice of two things.  [1913 Webster]
•  Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.  [1913 Webster]
•  Alternate; reciprocal.  Holland.  [1913 Webster]

alternative, n. [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse."  [1913 Webster]
•  The course of action or the thing offered in place of another.  [1913 Webster]

  "If this demand is refused the alternative is war."  [1913 Webster]

  "With no alternative but death."  [1913 Webster]
•  A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among.  [1913 Webster]

  "My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

alternative, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 (of one or more things) available or usable instead of another (an alternative route).

Idiom

the alternative society a group of people dissociating themselves from conventional society and its values.

Usage

Use with reference to more than two options (e.g. many alternative methods) is common, and acceptable.
2 (of two things) mutually exclusive.
3 of or relating to practices that offer a substitute for the conventional ones (alternative medicine; alternative theatre).
--n.
1 any of two or more possibilities.
2 the freedom or opportunity to choose between two or more things (I had no alternative but to go).

Derivative

alternatively adv.

Etymology

F alternatif -ive or med.L alternativus (as ALTERNATE)

THESAURUS

alternative

additional, agent, alternate, alternate choice, analogy, another, attainable, backup, change, changeling, choice, comparison, contingency, copy, counterfeit, deputy, different, discretion, discretional, disjunctive, double, druthers, dummy, election, elective, equal, equivalent, ersatz, escape clause, escape hatch, exchange, exchangeable, fake, fill-in, ghost, ghostwriter, imitation, interchangeable, locum tenens, loophole, makeshift, metaphor, metonymy, mock, next best thing, option, optional, optionality, personnel, phony, pinch, pinch hitter, pleasure, possibility, possible choice, preference, pretext, provisional, proxy, relief, replacement, replacing, representative, reserve, reserves, ringer, saving clause, second string, secondary, selection, sign, spare, spares, stand-in, stopgap, sub, substituent, substitute, substitution, succedaneum, superseder, supplanter, surrogate, symbol, synecdoche, temporary, tentative, third string, token, understudy, utility, utility player, variant, vicar, vicarious, vice-president, vice-regent, volitional, voluntary, way of escape, way out, will and pleasure

ROGET THESAURUS

alternative

Choice

N choice, option, discretion, preoption, alternative, dilemma, embarras de choix, adoption, cooptation, novation, decision, election, political election (politics), selection, excerption, gleaning, eclecticism, excerpta, gleanings, cuttings, scissors and paste, pick, preference, prelation, opinion poll, survey, predilection, optional, discretional, eclectic, choosing, preferential, chosen, choice, optionally, at pleasure, either the one or the other, or at the option of, whether or not, once and for all, for one's money, by choice, by preference, in preference, rather, before.

Plan

N plan, scheme, design, project, proposal, proposition, suggestion, resolution, motion, precaution, deep- laid plan, system, organization, germ, sketch, skeleton, outline, draught, draft, ebauche, brouillon, rough cast, rough draft, draught copy, copy, proof, revise, drawing, scheme, schematic, graphic, chart, flow chart (representation), forecast, program, programme, prospectus, carte du pays, card, bill, protocol, order of the day, list of agenda, bill of fare, base of operations, platform, plank, slate, ticket, role, policy, contrivance, invention, expedient, receipt, nostrum, artifice, device, pipelaying, stratagem, trick, alternative, loophole, shift, last shift, measure, step, stroke, stroke of policy, master stroke, trump card, court card, cheval de bataille, great gun, coup, coup d'etat, clever stroke, bold stroke, good move, good hit, good stroke, bright thought, bright idea, intrigue, cabal, plot, conspiracy, complot, machination, subplot, underplot, counterplot, schemer, schemist, schematist, strategist, machinator, projector, artist, promoter, designer, conspirator, intrigant, planned, strategic, strategical, planning, prepared, in course of preparation, under consideration, on the tapis, on the carpet, on the floor.

Substitution

N substitution, commutation, supplanting, metaphor, metonymy, substitute, ersatz, makeshift, temporary expedient, replacement, succedaneum, shift, pis aller, stopgap, jury rigging, jury mast, locum tenens, warming pan, dummy, scapegoat, double, changeling, quid pro quo, alternative, representative, palimpsest, price, purchase money, consideration, equivalent, substituted, ersatz, phony, vicarious, subdititious, instead, in place of, in lieu of, in the stead of, in the room of, faute de mieux.