WordGarden.ioalternative
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɔːltˈɜːnətˌɪv/
US
- /ɔlˈtɜrnətɪv/
Meanings
Adjective
available as another possible choice or substitute
outside the mainstream; unconventional in culture, style, or lifestyle
used for treatments or therapies outside standard medical practice
Noun
one of two or more possible choices or substitutes
Beyond the definition
When your first plan falls through, you need an alternative—another way to achieve the same goal. Think of it like having a backup route when your GPS sends you into a construction zone. It's not necessarily better or worse—just different. You might choose an alternative energy source, like solar power instead of fossil fuels, or suggest an alternative ending to a movie if you didn't like how it finished.
You can use it as a noun (an alternative = another option) or as an adjective (alternative = different from the usual). The word suggests there are multiple possibilities and that you're considering options beyond the most obvious one. It can also mean "occurring in place of the usual." For example, an alternative lifestyle might involve living off-grid or choosing a non-traditional career path. Sometimes, "alternative" is used to describe something different from the mainstream—like alternative music or alternative medicine.
The word alternative refers to another possibility, choice, or course of action that exists in addition to what is usual or expected. It implies a selection between two or more options. For example: "If you don't want to drive, there's an alternative—we can take the train."
An alternative isn't necessarily better than the original option; it simply provides another way of achieving a desired outcome. You might have an alternative solution to a problem or suggest an alternative approach to a task.
The term is often used when discussing choices that deviate from the norm. An alternative lifestyle could mean choosing to live in a communal setting, while alternative medicine encompasses practices outside of conventional medical treatments. In music, "alternative" refers to genres like indie rock and punk, which emerged as alternatives to mainstream pop.
The concept of an alternative can also apply to forced choices. For example: "They had no alternative but to cancel the event due to the storm." This implies they were left with no other option.
So, whether you're weighing options, exploring different paths, or facing a situation where your first plan isn't viable, alternative represents the possibility of another way forward—a different route to reach your destination.
Examples
- 1
Backup plan
We should have an alternative plan in case the weather changes.
- 2
Reliable option
If that app keeps crashing, we need a reliable alternative.
- 3
Packaging
We need an alternative to plastic packaging.
- 4
Explanation
She offered an alternative explanation for the sudden drop in sales.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Medical treatment
Many patients look into alternative treatments when standard medicine does not help enough.
- 6
Only choice
He had no alternative but to resign.
- Patternno alternative but to + verb
no other possible choice
- 7
Music genre
She used to play guitar in an alternative rock band in college.
- Domainalternative rock
a style of rock music
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- substitute
- fallback
- recourse
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- an alternative to
- viable alternative
- no alternative
- alternative approach
Word family
Explore
- trade-off
- decision
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- alternativenounadjective
Forms
- alternativespluralnounadjective