alternative
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.one of two or more things that you can choose between.
n.one of several mutually exclusive possibilities or options available for selection.
Simple“If you don't want to go by train, the only alternative is to drive.”
In context“The committee explored several viable alternatives to the proposed budget cuts, though none were as cost-effective as the original plan.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.different from the usual or traditional way of doing something.
adj.referring to a choice or possibility that is different from the one first mentioned or the one that is standard.
Simple“We had to find an alternative route because the main road was closed.”
In context“The researcher suggested that alternative explanations for the data should be considered before a final conclusion is reached.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.not traditional or mainstream, often used for music, medicine, or lifestyles.
adj.denoting a lifestyle, product, or artistic movement that exists outside the cultural mainstream.
Simple“She prefers alternative medicine like acupuncture over taking pills.”
In context“The city's vibrant alternative scene provides a platform for experimental artists who struggle to find space in commercial galleries.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
n.a style of rock music that is different from popular, mainstream music.
n.a genre of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s.
Simple“He listens to a lot of alternative from the nineties.”
In context“The festival lineup featured a mix of classic alternative and emerging indie bands from across Europe.”
alternative vs alternate — Alternate describes things that happen in turns or every other day, while alternative describes a different choice or possibility.
Usage alternative approach · alternative choice · alternative explanation
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 (“alternating”), from the participle stem of Latin alternō (“interchange, alternate”). Compare alternate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.