a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility

You have the alternative of riding or walking.

one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen

The alternative to riding is walking.

a possible or remaining course or choice

There was no alternative but to walk.

affording a choice of two or more things, propositions, or courses of action.

(of two things, propositions, or courses) mutually exclusive so that if one is chosen the other must be rejected

The alternative possibilities are neutrality and war.

employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment

an alternative newspaper; alternative lifestyles.

Logic . (of a proposition) asserting two or more choices, at least one of which is true.

noun

compulsion , constraint , necessity , obligation , restraint

adjective

another , back-up , different , flipside , other side , second , substitute , surrogatenotes:alternate means \'one after the other\' or \'each succeeding the other in turn , especially continuously\' and alternative means \'one instead of the other\' or \'allowing or necessitating a choice between two or more things\' , alternant , reciprocative

noun

back-up , druthers , opportunity , option , other , other fish in sea , other fish to fry , pick , preference , recourse , redundancy , selection , sub * , substitute , take it or leave itnotes:alternate means \'one after the other\' or \'each succeeding the other in turn , especially continuously\' and alternative means \'one instead of the other\' or \'allowing or necessitating a choice between two or more things\' , alternant , choice , dilemma , either , elective , loophole , quandary