adj · noun · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Australian:/ɔlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/
New-Zealand:/ɒlˈtøː.nə.təv/
New-Zealand:[ɔ̟lˈtøː.nə.təv]
CMU ARPABET:AO0 L T ER1 N AH0 T IH0 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
an alternative proposition
There are two alternative theories as to why this phenomenon occurs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
Presenting two or more alternatives.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
Examples
alternative conjunctions like or
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: disjunctive
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Other; different from something else.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
alternative medicine; alternative lifestyle; alternative rock
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Alternate, reciprocal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I gave you the alternative; you decided to stay.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
alternative rock
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A non-offensive word or phrase that serves as a replacement for a word deemed offensive or unacceptable, though not as a euphemism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Disability activists discourage the use of the words "crazy" and "insane" due to their negative connections to mental health, suggesting alternatives such as "wild", "silly", or "out of this world", which do not relate to mental health.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
adjective satellite
Meaning 11
necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
alternative possibilities were neutrality or war
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
adjective satellite
Meaning 12
pertaining to unconventional choices
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an alternative life style
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
adjective satellite
Meaning 13
serving or used in place of another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an alternative plan
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: alternate, substitute
Antonyms: none provided
14
noun
Meaning 14
one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2el- Proto-Indo-European *h2élyos Proto-Italic *aljos Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *aliteros Latin alter Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Latin -nus Latin alternus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin alternō Latin alternātus Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Latin alternātīvusder. Middle French alternatifbor. English alternative From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternātīvus (“alternating”), from the participle stem of Latin alternō (“interchange, alternate”). By surface analysis, alternate + -ive. Compare alternate.
Across languages
Translations
143 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
այլընտրանքային
(ayləntrankʻayin)
— relating to a choice
Belarusian:
альтэрнаты́ўны
(alʹternatýwny)
— relating to a choice
Bulgarian:
алтернати́вен
(alternatíven)
— relating to a choice
Bulgarian:
друга възможност
(druga vǎzmóžnost)
— relating to a choice
Bulgarian:
или-или
(ili ili)
— relating to a choice
Catalan:
alternatiu
— relating to a choice
Chinese Mandarin:
選項 /选项
(xuǎnxiàng)
— relating to a choice
Czech:
alternativní
— relating to a choice
Danish:
alternativ
— relating to a choice
Dutch:
alternatief
— relating to a choice
Esperanto:
anstataŭa
— relating to a choice
Finnish:
vaihtoehtoinen
— relating to a choice
French:
alternatif
— relating to a choice
Galician:
alternativo
— relating to a choice
German:
alternativ
— relating to a choice
Greek:
εναλλακτικός
(enallaktikós)
— relating to a choice
Greek:
προαιρετικός
(proairetikós)
— relating to a choice
Hindi:
वैकल्पिक
(vaikalpik)
— relating to a choice
Hungarian:
vagylagos
— relating to a choice
Italian:
alternativo
— relating to a choice
Kazakh:
балама
(balama)
— relating to a choice
Malay:
alternatif
— relating to a choice
Malayalam:
ബദൽ
(badal)
— relating to a choice
Malayalam:
പകരം
(pakaraṁ)
— relating to a choice
Mirandese:
alternatibo
— relating to a choice
Norwegian:
alternativ
— relating to a choice
Polish:
alternatywny
— relating to a choice
Portuguese:
alternativo
— relating to a choice
Russian:
альтернати́вный
(alʹternatívnyj)
— relating to a choice
Serbo-Croatian:
а̏лтернатӣван
— relating to a choice
Serbo-Croatian:
ȁlternatīvan
— relating to a choice
Slovak:
alternatívny
— relating to a choice
Spanish:
alternativo
— relating to a choice
Swedish:
alternativ
— relating to a choice
Telugu:
ప్రత్యామ్నాయం
(pratyāmnāyaṁ)
— relating to a choice
Ukrainian:
альтернати́вний
(alʹternatývnyj)
— relating to a choice
Hungarian:
választó
— (linguistics) presenting two or more alternatives
Belarusian:
альтэрнаты́ўны
(alʹternatýwny)
— other
Bulgarian:
алтернати́вен
(alternatíven)
— other
Bulgarian:
друг
(drug)
— other
Bulgarian:
различен
(razlíčen)
— other
Catalan:
alternatiu
— other
Danish:
alternativ
— other
Esperanto:
anstataŭa
— other
Finnish:
vaihtoehtoinen
— other
French:
autre
— other
Galician:
alternativo
— other
German:
alternativ
— other
Greek:
εναλλακτικός
(enallaktikós)
— other
Hindi:
वैकल्पिक
(vaikalpik)
— other
Hungarian:
alternatív
— other
Hungarian:
másik
— other
Hungarian:
más
— other
Italian:
alternativo
— other
Japanese:
代替
(daitai)
— other
Malayalam:
പകരം
(pakaraṁ)
— other
Norwegian:
alternativ
— other
Polish:
alternatywny
— other
Portuguese:
alternativo
— other
Russian:
альтернати́вный
(alʹternatívnyj)
— other
Serbo-Croatian:
а̏лтернатӣван
— other
Serbo-Croatian:
ȁlternatīvan
— other
Swedish:
alternativ
— other
Telugu:
ప్రత్యామ్నాయం
(pratyāmnāyaṁ)
— other
Turkish:
başka
— other
Turkish:
farklı
— other
Ukrainian:
альтернати́вний
(alʹternatývnyj)
— other
Bulgarian:
алтернативен
(alternativen)
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Bulgarian:
необичаен
(neobičaen)
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Catalan:
alternatiu
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Chinese Mandarin:
另類 /另类
(lìnglèi)
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Hungarian:
alternatív
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Polish:
alternatywny
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Portuguese:
alternativo
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Spanish:
alternativo
— not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground
Belarusian:
альтэрнаты́ва
(alʹternatýva)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Bulgarian:
алтернати́ва
(alternatíva)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Czech:
alternativa
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Danish:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Esperanto:
alternativo
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Finnish:
vaihtoehto
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
French:
alternative
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
German:
Alternative
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Greek:
εναλλαγή
(enallagí)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Greek:
διέξοδος
(diéxodos)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Hebrew:
אַלְטֶרְנָטִיבָה
(alternatíva)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Hungarian:
alternatíva
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Irish:
rogha
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Italian:
alternativa
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Japanese:
選択肢
(sentakushi)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Central Kurdish:
ئاڵتێرناتیڤ
(alltêrnatîv)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Central Kurdish:
ئەڵتەرناتیڤ
(ellternatîv)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Northern Kurdish:
alternatîv
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Northern Kurdish:
alternatîf
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Macedonian:
алтернатива
(alternativa)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Malayalam:
ബദൽ
(badal)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Mirandese:
alternatiba
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Norwegian:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Norwegian:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Norwegian Bokmål:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Norwegian Nynorsk:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Persian:
آلترناتیو
(âlternativ)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Polish:
alternatywa
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Polish:
dysjunkcja
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Portuguese:
alternativa
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Romanian:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Russian:
альтернати́ва
(alʹternatíva)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Serbo-Croatian:
алтернати́ва
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Serbo-Croatian:
alternatíva
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Spanish:
alternativa
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Swedish:
alternativ
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Turkish:
seçenek
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Turkish:
alternatif
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Ukrainian:
альтернати́ва
(alʹternatýva)
— a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities
Armenian:
այլընտրանք
(ayləntrankʻ)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Belarusian:
альтэрнаты́ва
(alʹternatýva)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Bulgarian:
алтернати́ва
(alternatíva)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Esperanto:
alternativo
— one of several things which can be chosen
Finnish:
vaihtoehto
— one of several things which can be chosen
French:
alternative
— one of several things which can be chosen
German:
Alternative
— one of several things which can be chosen
Greek:
επιλογή
(epilogí)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Greek:
εκλογή
(eklogí)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Hebrew:
אַלְטֶרְנָטִיבָה
(alternatíva)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Hebrew:
חֲלוּפָה
(khalufá)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Hindi:
विकल्प
(vikalp)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Irish:
rogha
— one of several things which can be chosen
Italian:
alternativa
— one of several things which can be chosen
Japanese:
選択肢
(sentakushi)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Malayalam:
പകരം
(pakaraṁ)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Mirandese:
alternatiba
— one of several things which can be chosen
Norwegian:
alternativ
— one of several things which can be chosen
Norwegian:
alternativ
— one of several things which can be chosen
Polish:
alternatywa
— one of several things which can be chosen
Portuguese:
alternativa
— one of several things which can be chosen
Russian:
альтернати́ва
(alʹternatíva)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Serbo-Croatian:
алтернати́ва
— one of several things which can be chosen
Serbo-Croatian:
alternatíva
— one of several things which can be chosen
Spanish:
alternativa
— one of several things which can be chosen
Swedish:
alternativ
— one of several things which can be chosen
Turkish:
seçenek
— one of several things which can be chosen
Ukrainian:
альтернати́ва
(alʹternatýva)
— one of several things which can be chosen
Yiddish:
ברירה
(breyre)
— one of several things which can be chosen
