/ tʃɔɪs; NAmE / noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
[ C ] choice (between A and B) an act of choosing between two or more possibilities; something that you can choose :
women forced to make a choice between family and career
We are faced with a difficult choice.
We aim to help students make more informed career choices.
There is a wide range of choices open to you.
➡ note at option
2.
[ U , sing. ] the right to choose or the possibility of choosing :
If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
He had no choice but to leave (= this was the only thing he could do) .
She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice , really, does she?
This government is committed to extending parental choice in education.
3.
[ C ] a person or thing that is chosen :
She's the obvious choice for the job.
Hawaii remains a popular choice for winter vacation travel.
This colour wasn't my first choice.
She wouldn't be my choice as manager.
4.
[ sing. , U ] the number or range of different things from which to choose :
The menu has a good choice of desserts.
There wasn't much choice of colour.
—see also Hobson's choice , multiple-choice
•
IDIOMS
- by choice
- of choice (for sb/sth)
- of your choice
—more at pay verb , spoilt
■ adjective ( choicer , choicest ) [ only before noun ]
1.
( especially of food ) of very good quality
2.
( NAmE ) ( of meat ) of very good, but not the highest, quality
3.
choice words / phrases carefully chosen words or phrases :
She summed up the situation in a few choice phrases.
( humorous )
He used some pretty choice (= rude or offensive) language.
••
SYNONYMS
choice
favourite ♦ preference ♦ selection ♦ pick
These are all words for a person or thing that is chosen, or that is liked more than others.
choice
a person or thing that is chosen:
She's the obvious choice for the job.
favourite / favorite
a person or thing that you like more than the others of the same type:
Which one's your favourite?
preference
a thing that is liked better or best:
Tastes and preferences vary from individual to individual.
favourite or preference?
Your favourites are the things you like best, and that you have, do, listen to, etc. often; your preferences are the things that you would rather have or do if you can choose.
selection
a number of people or things that have been chosen from a larger group:
A selection of reader's comments are published below.
pick
( rather informal especially NAmE ) a person or thing that is chosen:
She was his pick for best actress.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
sb's choice / favourite / preference / pick for sth
sb's choice / selection / pick as sth
an obvious choice / favourite / selection
a(n) excellent / good / popular / fine choice / selection
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French chois , from choisir choose, of Germanic origin and related to choose .