alternative

Line breaks: al¦ter|na¦tive

Pronunciation: /ɔːlˈtəːnətɪv

, ɒl-/

adjective

• 1 [attributive] (of one or more things) available as another possibility or choice: the various alternative methods for resolving disputes
  

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  • Can you talk about how and why it was humanism that triumphed over alternative possibilities?
  • In recent years several sites have been examined as a possible alternative home for the Abbey.
  • It is perfectly possible that an alternative government would overturn a hunting ban.
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  Synonyms
  

  different, other, another, second, possible, substitute, replacement; deputy, relief, proxy, surrogate, cover, fill-in, stand-in; standby, emergency, reserve, backup, auxiliary, fallback; North Americanalternate
  

  North American• informalpinch-hitting

  
  

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• 1.1(of two things) mutually exclusive: the facts fit two alternative scenarios
  

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  • The book answers all these questions by analogy, with instances from the alternative America of the novel.
  • The alternative scenario is not one that City fans will want to think too much about.
  • The only legal alternative, a fresh set of elections, would solve nothing.
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• 2of or relating to activities that depart from or challenge traditional norms: an alternative lifestyle