# choice

/ˈtʃɔɪs/ (US) · /tʃˈɔɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/choice
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. an option or decision

noun · CEFR A2

the act of picking between different things, or the possibility of picking.

For teachers: the act of choosing or selecting; the opportunity or privilege of choosing between alternatives.

- You have a choice between the red shirt and the blue one.
- Faced with several attractive career paths, she found that making a final choice was more difficult than she had anticipated.

Usage: Often used with the prepositions 'between' or 'of'.

### 2. the thing chosen

noun · CEFR A2

the person or thing that you have picked from a group.

For teachers: the person or thing chosen; the object of a selection process.

- The steak was a great choice; it tasted delicious.
- The committee's choice for the new director surprised many, as he was the least experienced candidate on the shortlist.

### 3. range of options

noun · CEFR B1

a number of different things that you can pick from.

For teachers: a range or variety from which to select.

- The shop has a wide choice of greeting cards for every occasion.
- The university offers a vast choice of elective modules, allowing students to tailor their degree to their specific interests.

### 4. high quality

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

of very high quality or carefully picked as the best.

For teachers: of very high quality; selected with care and discrimination.

- The chef used only the most choice cuts of meat for the banquet.
- The speaker used a few choice words to describe the government's failure to address the housing crisis.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'choice words' to mean sarcastic or well-chosen insults.

## Examples

- You have a choice between tea and coffee.
- The restaurant offers a wide choice of vegetarian dishes on its new seasonal menu.
- While the abundance of choice in modern supermarkets is often seen as a benefit, psychologists suggest that too many options can lead to decision fatigue and eventual regret.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.