# alternative

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/ · frequency rank #1,981

## Definitions
1. Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
2. Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
3. Other; different from something else.
4. Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground.
5. Alternate, reciprocal.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos
Proto-Italic *aljos
Proto-Indo-European *-teros
Proto-Italic *-teros
Proto-Italic *aliteros
Latin alter
Proto-Indo-European *-nós
Proto-Italic *-nos
Latin -nus
Latin alternus
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti
Proto-Italic *-āō
Latin -ō
Latin alternō
Latin alternātus
Proto-Indo-European *-wósder.
Latin -īvus
Latin alternātīvusder.
Middle French alternatifbor.
English alternative
From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternātīvus (“alternating”), from the participle stem of Latin alternō (“interchange, alternate”). Compare alternate.

## Easily confused with
- **alternatively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alternative-vs-alternatively)
- **alternate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alternate-vs-alternative)
- **alternating** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alternating-vs-alternative)

## Common misspellings (16)
`aletrnative`, `allternative`, `altenrative`, `alterantive`, `alternaitve`, `alternatiev`, `alternativve`, `alternattive`, `alternatvie`, `alternnative`, `alterntaive`, `alterrnative`, `altrenative`, `altternative`, `atlernative`, `laternative`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alternative