[al.ter.na.tive] adj (1540) 1: alternate 1
2: offering or expressing a choice "several ~ plans"
3: existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system "~ newspaper" "~ lifestyles"; also: different from the usual or conventional "~ fuels" -- al.ter.na.tive.ly adv -- al.ter.na.tive.ness n
[2]alternative n (1624) 1 a: a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen b: an opportunity for deciding between two or more courses or propositions
2. a: one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen b: something which can be chosen instead "the only ~ to intervention" syn see choice