Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of alternative
"The committee reviewed several alternatives to the proposed budget before making a final decision."
In plain English: Alternatives are other choices you can make when your first option isn't available or isn't what you want.
"We looked at several alternatives to fix the broken pipe."
Usage: Use alternatives to refer to two or more different choices available when one option is rejected or unavailable. Avoid using it to describe a single choice, which should simply be called an alternative.
Derived from the Latin alternativus, formed from alter meaning "other," this term originally described something that could be chosen in place of another or an option available when one is not selected. It entered English via French to denote a substitute or different course of action.