ENGLISH
REFERENCE

substitute

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈsəbstəˌtut// UK //sˈʌbstɪtjˌuːt// sub·sti·tute Academic Archaic

n. a person or thing that takes the place of another. You use this when the usual choice is not available or when you want to try something different.

n. a person or thing acting or serving in place of another. Often used in professional or technical contexts to describe a functional equivalent or a replacement player in a team sport.


SIMPLE

Honey is a good substitute for sugar in this recipe.

CONTEXTUAL

The coach decided to bring on a substitute in the second half to improve the team's energy.

COMPLEX

In many industrial processes, manufacturers are seeking a sustainable substitute for petroleum-based plastics to meet new environmental regulations without sacrificing product durability.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English substituten, from Latin substitutus, past participle of substituō, from sub- (“under; beneath”) + statuō (“to put up; establish”).

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'for' to indicate the person or thing being replaced.

Pitfall

a substitute of sugara substitute for sugarThe noun substitute typically takes the preposition 'for' rather than 'of' when identifying the original item.

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