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Choice vs Alternative - What's the difference?

choice | alternative |

As nouns the difference between choice and alternative

is that choice is an option; a decision; an opportunity to choose or select something while alternative is a situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.

As adjectives the difference between choice and alternative

is that choice is especially good or preferred while alternative is relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

choice

English

(wikipedia choice)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An option; a decision; an opportunity to choose or select something.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
    • , author=Steven Sloman , title=The Battle Between Intuition and Deliberation , volume=100, issue=1, page=74 , magazine= citation , passage=Libertarian paternalism is the view that, because the way options are presented to citizens affects what they choose, society should present options in a way that “nudges” our intuitive selves to make choices that are more consistent with what our more deliberative selves would have chosen if they were in control.}}
    Do I have a choice of what color to paint it?
  • One selection or preference; that which is chosen or decided; the outcome of a decision.
    • The ice cream sundae is a popular choice for dessert.
  • Anything that can be chosen.
  • The best or most preferable part.
  • * Milton
    • The flower and choice / Of many provinces from bound to bound.
  • Care and judgement in selecting; discrimination.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • I imagine they [the apothegms of Caesar] were collected with judgment and choice .
  • (obsolete) A sufficient number to choose among.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * (anything that can be chosen) assortment, range, selection * the cream * See also

    Related terms

    * choose * choosey * chosen * Hobson's choice

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Especially good or preferred.
    • It's a choice location, but you will pay more to live there.
  • (slang, New Zealand) Cool; excellent.
    • Choice ! I'm going to the movies.

    Synonyms

    * (especially good or preferred) prime, prize, quality, select

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words

    alternative

    English

    (wikipedia alternative)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities
    • an alternative proposition
  • Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground (e.g., alternative medicine, alternative lifestyle, (alternative rock)).
  • Other.
  • alternate; reciprocal
    • (Holland)

    Derived terms

    * alternative dispute resolution * alternative energy * alternative lifestyle * alternative medicine * alternative press * alternative vote

    Related terms

    * alternate * alternativeness * alternativism

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.
  • * 1817 , (Walter Scott), Rob Roy , XI:
    • ‘The cloister or a betrothed husband?’ I echoed—‘Is that the alternative destined for Miss Vernon?’
  • One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.
  • The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    See also

    *

    References

    * * ----