plural noun
Choices or plans that can be used instead of other ones.
We need to compare all the alternatives.
Are there affordable alternatives to the current plan?
American English
How to pronounce alternatives
nounB1Common word
awlTʰERnuhddihvz
/ɔlˈtʰɚ.nə.ɾɪvz/
4 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
Form of alternative
Choices or plans that can be used instead of other ones.
What to listen for
You may hear “alternatives” as /ɔɫˈtʰɚ.nə.ɾɪvz/ or /ɑɫˈtʰɚ.nə.ɾɪvz/; both are common American pronunciations.
Main pronunciation/ɔɫˈtʰɚ.nə.ɾɪvz/
Common American variant/ɑɫˈtʰɚ.nə.ɾɪvz/
Meanings & examples
Useful expressions
a different choice that can replace something
Solar power is an alternative to gas.
to have only one possible choice
We had no alternative but to wait.