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Replacement vs Alternative - What's the difference?

replacement | alternative |

As nouns the difference between replacement and alternative

is that replacement is a person or thing that takes the place of another; a substitute 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.

replacement

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person or thing that takes the place of another; a substitute.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 28 , author=Kevin Darlin , title=West Brom 1 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Rovers lost keeper Robinson to a calf problem at half-time and his replacement Mark Bunn, making his Premier League debut, was immediately called into action - pushing away a vicious Peter Odemwingie drive at the near post.}}
  • The act of replacing something.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * overreplacement * subreplacement
    See also
    * spare part

    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

    * * ----