US /ɔːlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/ UK /ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/
adj noun Freq #4801

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    One of two or more things you can choose between.

    If you don't like coffee, tea is a good alternative.

  2. 2
    adj

    Available to be used instead of something else.

    We need an alternative plan in case it rains.

  3. 3
    adj

    Different from what is usual or traditional; outside the mainstream.

    Many people are turning to alternative medicine.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · one of two or more things... optionchoice
2 adj · available to be used... alternatesubstitute
Opposites
Word family
Forms alternatives
Derived forms alternapopalternarockalternateenalternativistalternativityaltlangcoalternativemallternativemalternativemultialternativenonalternativeunalternative
Related forms alternatealternativenessalternativismvariant

Etymology

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-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin alternō Latin alternātus Proto-Indo-European *-wósder. Latin -īvus Latin alternātīvusder. Middle French alternatifbor. English alternative From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternātīvus (“alternat…

View etymology graph ->

Topics

markdown

Send feedback

Optional — only if you'd like a reply.