alternative

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternativus, from the participle stem of Latin alternāre (“to do by turns”). Compare alternate.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɒltəːnətɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

alternative (not comparable)

1. Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities
2. Not traditional (an alternative lifestyle)
3. Other

Derived terms

• alternative dispute resolution
• alternative energy
• alternative lifestyle
• alternative medicine
• alternative vote

Related terms

• alternate
• alternativeness
• alternativism

Translations

Relating to a choice

Armenian: այլընտրանքային (hy) (ayləntrankʿayin) Bulgarian: алтернативен (bg) Catalan: alternatiu (ca) Croatian: alternativan (hr) Danish: alternativ (da) Dutch: alternatief (nl) Finnish: vaihtoehtoinen (fi) French: alternatif (fr) m., alternative (fr) f.

German: alternativ (de) Italian: alternativo (it) m., alternativa (it) f. Norwegian: alternativ (no) Portuguese: alternativo (pt) Russian: альтернативный (ru) (al'ternatívnyj) Spanish: alternativo (es) Swedish: alternativ (sv) Telugu: ప్రత్యామ్నాయం (pratyaamnaayaM)

other

Catalan: alternatiu (ca) Croatian: alternativan (hr) Danish: alternativ (da) Finnish: vaihtoehtoinen (fi) French: alternatif (fr) m., alternative (fr) f. German: alternativ (de)

Italian: alternativo (it) m., alternativa (it) f. Japanese: 代替 (daitai) Norwegian: alternativ (no) Portuguese: alternativo (pt) Swedish: alternativ (sv) Telugu: ప్రత్యామ్నాయం (pratyaamnaayaM)

Noun

alternative (plural alternatives)

1. A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities. [from 17th c.]
   • 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy, XI:

     ‘The cloister or a betrothed husband?’ I echoed—‘Is that the alternative destined for Miss Vernon?’

2. One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen. [from 17th c.]
3. The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted. [from 18th c.]

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:option

Translations

a situation which allows a choice between two or more possibilities

Bulgarian: алтернатива (bg) Croatian: alternativa (hr) f. Finnish: vaihtoehto (fi) French: alternative (fr) f. German: Alternative (de) f. Italian: alternativa (it) f.

Japanese: 選択肢 (sentakushi) Norwegian: alternativ (no) n., alternativ (no) n. pl. Portuguese: alternativa (pt) f. Russian: альтернатива (ru) (al'ternatíva) f. Spanish: alternativo (es) m. Swedish: alternativ (sv) n.

one of several things which can be chosen

Armenian: այլընտրանք (hy) (ayləntrankʿ) Croatian: alternativa (hr) f. Finnish: vaihtoehto (fi) French: alternative (fr) f. Italian: alternativa (it) f. Japanese: 選択肢 (sentakushi)

Norwegian: alternativ (no) n., alternativ (no) n. pl. Portuguese: alternativa (pt) f. Russian: альтернатива (ru) Spanish: alternativa (es) f. Swedish: alternativ (sv) n.

See also

• variant

References

• alternative in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• alternative in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

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French

Wikipedia ^fr

Pronunciation

• alternative

  (file)

Adjective

alternative f.

1. alternate (other; alternative)

This French entry was created from the translations listed at alternate. It may be less reliable than other entries, and may be missing parts of speech or additional senses. Please also see alternative in the French Wiktionary. This notice will be removed when the entry is checked. (more information) July 2010

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Italian

Noun

alternative f.

1. Plural form of alternativa.

Adjective

alternative f.

1. Feminine plural of alternativo

Anagrams

• alternatevi

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Latin

Adjective

alternātīve

1. vocative masculine singular of alternātīvus

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Swedish

Adjective

alternative

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of alternativ.