English · Word Candidate

alternative

/ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: alternatives

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Liên quan đến việc lựa chọn giữa hai hoặc nhiều khả năng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

an alternative proposition

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities. — Presenting two or more alternatives.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Liên quan đến việc lựa chọn giữa hai hoặc nhiều khả năng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

alternative conjunctions like or

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tình huống cho phép lựa chọn độc quyền giữa hai hoặc nhiều khả năng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

I gave you the alternative; you decided to stay.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Một trong số nhiều thứ độc quyền có thể được chọn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

Between these alternatives there is no middle ground. The Constitution is either a superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, and, like other acts, is alterable when the legislature shall please to alter it.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “alternative” mean?

Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.

Is “alternative” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.