Alternate vs. Alternative — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
"Alternate" refers to a substitute or second option that takes the place of the first, often in a sequence. "Alternative" denotes a different choice or option available among others.
Difference Between Alternate and Alternative
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Alternate and Alternative are often used interchangeably but carry distinct meanings. Alternate often implies a substitution or succession in a series. For example, an alternate route means a different path taken in place of the usual one. In contrast, Alternative suggests a choice between two or more options. An alternative solution implies there are several solutions to choose from.
In terms of usage, Alternate can describe actions that occur in succession or by turns. For instance, traffic lights alternate between red, yellow, and green. Alternative, on the other hand, usually refers to an option that is different from the norm or from what was originally considered. For example, alternative medicine refers to treatments that are different from conventional medical practices.
Alternate is also used as a verb, indicating the act of taking turns or substituting. For instance, "The two players alternate as team captains." However, Alternative is rarely used as a verb; it mainly functions as an adjective or a noun, describing or referring to a different option.
When discussing roles or positions, an alternate is someone who stands in for another person, like an alternate juror. An Alternative, in a similar context, would refer to a different option or choice for a role or position.
Comparison Chart
Meaning
Substitution or succession
Different choice or option
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Usage
Describes actions by turns
Refers to different options
Part of Speech
Often used as verb and adjective
Mainly used as adjective and noun
Example Context
Alternate route, alternate in turns
Alternative medicine, alternative plan
Implication
Taking place of another
Offering a different choice
Compare with Definitions
Alternate
Substitute
She was the alternate juror in the trial.
Alternative
Different Choice
She chose the alternative route to avoid traffic.
Alternate
Successive
The lights alternate between red and green.
Alternative
Substitute Option
An electric car is an alternative to gasoline vehicles.
Alternate
Interchangeable
Alternate layers of pasta and sauce in the dish.
Alternative
Non-Traditional Option
He prefers alternative medicine.
Alternate
Rotational
They alternate as team leaders every week.
Alternative
(of one or more things) available as another possibility or choice
The various alternative methods for resolving disputes
Alternate
Secondary Option
He is the alternate speaker if the primary is unavailable.
Alternative
Relating to activities that depart from or challenge traditional norms
An alternative lifestyle
Alternate
Occur in turn repeatedly
Bouts of depression alternate with periods of elation
Alternative
One of two or more available possibilities
Audiobooks are an interesting alternative to reading
She had no alternative but to break the law
Alternate
Every other; every second
She was asked to attend on alternate days
Alternative
One of a number of possible choices or courses of action
There are plenty of alternatives to conventional advertising.
Alternate
Another term for alternative
A novel set in an alternate universe
Alternative
A choice or course of action that is mutually exclusive with another
The alternative to staying in that dead-end job is to quit.
Alternate
A person who acts as a deputy or substitute
He shall be entitled to exercise the vote of the director for whom he is an alternate
Alternative
A situation presenting a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities
People facing the alternative of selling their homes or going bankrupt.
Alternate
To occur in a successive manner
Day alternating with night.
Alternative
Being one of a number of possible choices or courses of action
The highway is closed. Seek alternative routes.
Alternate
To act or proceed by turns
The students alternated at the computer.
Alternative
Being one of two mutually exclusive choices or courses of action
How effective is the alternative treatment?.
Alternate
To pass back and forth from one state, action, or place to another
Alternated between happiness and depression.
Alternative
Substitute or other
Several members of the audience provided alternative views on the topic.
Alternate
(Electricity) To reverse direction at regular intervals in a circuit.
Alternative
Existing outside traditional or established institutions or systems
An alternative lifestyle.
Alternative energy.
Alternate
To do or execute by turns.
Alternative
Espousing or reflecting values that are different from those of the establishment or mainstream
An alternative newspaper.
Alternate
To cause to alternate
Alternated light and dark squares to form a pattern.
Alternative
Relating to a choice between two or more possibilities.
Alternate
Happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously
Alternate seasons of the year.
Alternative
(linguistics) Presenting two or more alternatives.
Alternative conjunctions like or
Alternate
Designating or relating to every other one of a series
Alternate lines.
Alternative
Other; different from something else.
Alternate
Serving or used in place of another; substitute
An alternate plan. See Usage Note at alternative.
Alternative
Not traditional, outside the mainstream, underground.
Alternate
Arranged singly at each node, as leaves or buds on different sides of a stem.
Alternative
(obsolete) Alternate, reciprocal.
Alternate
Arranged regularly between other parts, as stamens between petals.
Alternative
A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.
Alternate
A person acting in the place of another; a substitute.
Alternative
One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.
Alternate
An alternative.
Alternative
The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.
Alternate
Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly)
Alternate picking is a guitar playing technique.
Alternative
A non-offensive word or phrase that serves as a replacement for a word deemed offensive or unacceptable, though not as a euphemism.
Disability activists discourage the use of the words "crazy" and "insane" due to their negative connections to mental health, suggesting alternatives such as "wild", "silly", or "out of this world", which do not relate to mental health.
Alternate
(mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
The alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
Alternative
Offering a choice of two things.
Alternate
(US) Other; alternative.
Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.
He lives in an alternate universe and an alternate reality.
Alternative
Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.
Alternate
Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence
Alternative
Alternate; reciprocal.
Alternate
That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
Alternative
An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left.
There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence.
Alternate
(US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
Alternative
Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives.
Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse.
Alternate
(mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
Alternative
The course of action or the thing offered in place of another.
If this demand is refused the alternative is war.
With no alternative but death.
Alternate
(US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
Alternative
A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among.
My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives.
Alternate
(heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.
Alternative
One of a number of things from which only one can be chosen;
What option did I have?
There no other alternative
My only choice is to refuse
Alternate
(transitive) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
Alternative
Allowing a choice;
An alternative plan
Alternate
(intransitive) To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with.
The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
Alternative
Necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive possibilities;
`either' and `or' in `either this or that'
Alternate
(intransitive) To vary by turns.
The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Alternative
Pertaining to unconventional choices;
An alternative life style
Alternate
To perform an alternation (removal of alternate vertices) on (a polytope or tessellation); to remove vertices (from a face or edge) as part of an alternation.
Alternative
Other Possibility
We need an alternative plan if this fails.
Alternate
Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
And bid alternate passions fall and rise.
Alternative
Choice Between Options
The alternative to buying is renting.
Alternate
Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line.
Alternate
Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
Alternate
That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
Grateful alternates of substantial.
Alternate
A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
Alternate
A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
Alternate
To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil.
Alternate
To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; - followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast.
Different species alternating with each other.
Alternate
To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Alternate
Someone who takes the place of another person
Alternate
Go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions
Alternate
Exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions
Alternate
Be an understudy or alternate for a role
Alternate
Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
Alternate
Do something in turns;
We take turns on the night shift
Alternate
Every second one of a series;
The cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays
Jam every other day
Alternate
Allowing a choice;
An alternative plan
Alternate
Occurring by turns; first one and then the other;
Alternating feelings of love and hate
Alternate
Of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired;
Stems with alternate leaves
Common Curiosities
Do "Alternate" and "Alternative" mean the same?
No, they have different meanings related to substitution and choice.
Can "Alternate" refer to a method?
Yes, as in alternating methods or approaches.
What is an "Alternative"?
It’s a different choice or option from what is usual or traditional.
Does "Alternative" imply multiple choices?
It can, as it refers to different options available.
Can "Alternate" imply a backup option?
Yes, it can refer to a secondary or standby option.
Can "Alternate" be a noun?
Yes, it can refer to a substitute, like an alternate juror.
Is "Alternative" used as a verb?
No, it's mainly used as an adjective or a noun.
What does "Alternate" mean?
It means to take turns, substitute, or occur in succession.
Can "Alternate" be used in time sequences?
Yes, like alternating days or times.
Does "Alternative" always suggest a better option?
Not necessarily; it just offers a different choice.
Is "Alternative" always non-traditional?
Often, but it mainly signifies a different option.
Can "Alternate" indicate a plan B?
Yes, it can be a backup or secondary plan.
Are "Alternate" and "Alternative" interchangeable in sentences?
No, they serve different grammatical and contextual purposes.
Can "Alternate" be used in sports?
Yes, like alternate players or positions.
Is "Alternative" commonly used in music genres?
Yes, like alternative rock, referring to a different style.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
