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Alteration vs Alternative - What's the difference?

alteration | alternative |

As nouns the difference between alteration and alternative

is that alteration is the act of altering or making different while alternative is a situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.

As an adjective alternative is

relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

alteration

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of altering or making different.
  • * 1594 , , Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity ,
  • alteration , though it be from worse to better, hath in it inconveniences…
  • The state of being altered; a change made in the form or nature of a thing; changed condition.
  • * 1892 , ,
  • …and I saw by the alteration in your face that a train of thought had been started.
    (Webster 1913)

    References

    *

    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

    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

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