choice

[ chois ]

noun

1. an act or instance of choosing; selection:

   Her choice of a computer was made after months of research. His parents were not happy with his choice of friends.

2. the right, power, or opportunity to choose; option:

   The child had no choice about going to school.

3. the person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen:

   This book is my choice.

   He is one of many choices for the award.

4. an alternative:

   There is another choice.

5. an abundance or variety from which to choose:

   a wide choice of candidates.

6. something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something:

   Mare's Nest is the choice in the sixth race.

7. a carefully selected supply:

   This restaurant has a fine choice of wines.

8. a choice grade of beef.

adjective

, choic·er, choic·est.

1. worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.

   Synonyms: precious, valuable, uncommon, rare, select

2. carefully selected:

   choice words.

3. (in the grading of beef in the U.S.) rated between prime and good.

choice

/ tʃɔɪs /

noun

1. the act or an instance of choosing or selecting
2. the opportunity or power of choosing
3. a person or thing chosen or that may be chosen

   he was a possible choice

4. an alternative action or possibility

   what choice did I have?

5. a supply from which to select

   a poor choice of shoes

6. of choice
   preferred; favourite

adjective

1. of superior quality; excellent

   choice wine

2. carefully chosen, appropriate

   a few choice words will do the trick

3. vulgar or rude

   choice language

Derived Forms

• ˈchoicely, adverb
• ˈchoiceness, noun

Other Words From

• choiceless adjective
• choicely adverb
• choiceness noun
• pre·choice noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of choice¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chois, from Old French, derived from choisir “to perceive, choose,” from Germanic; choose

Word History and Origins

Origin of choice¹

C13: from Old French chois, from choisir to choose

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. of choice, that is generally preferred:

   A detached house is still the home of choice.

More idioms and phrases containing choice

see by choice ; Hobson's choice ; of choice ; pays your money and takes your choice . Also see under choose .

Synonym Study

Choice, alternative, option, preference all suggest the power of choosing between things. Choice implies the opportunity to choose: a choice of evils. Alternative suggests that one has a choice between only two possibilities. It is often used with a negative to mean that there is no second possibility: to have no alternative. Option emphasizes free right or privilege of choosing: to exercise one's option. Preference applies to a choice based on liking or partiality: to state a preference. See fine ¹.

Example Sentences

"Force ourselves to reach out and find out why someone feels the way they do and make the choices they make without prejudging them a monster."

From Salon

She and the cabinet have spent this early period in power arguing the inheritance they received from the previous Conservative government was gruesome, that the remedy requires hard and unpopular choices.

From BBC

The commander added that in many instances police had no choice but to defend themselves from protesters who had unleashed violence, including killing six officers and looting and burning property and vehicles.

From BBC

Since Election Day, the CEO has spent time at Mar-a-Lago participating in calls with foreign leaders and vetting staffing choices.

From Salon

I applied to dental schools, but when I found myself hoping I’d be rejected by my top choice, I realized what I really wanted to do was teach.

From Science Magazine

Related Words

• best
• excellent
• preferred
• prime
• superior

More About Choice

What is a basic definition of choice?

A choice is an act of choosing something from multiple options or is one of the options you can choose from. Choice also describes something as being carefully selected. Choice has several other senses as a noun and an adjective.

When a person makes a choice, they consider different options and select one of them. For example, you might look at different colors of paint for your bedroom and decide that you want red paint. Your choice of paint was red. When making a choice, the options can be physical things, like food to eat, or nonphysical things, like which direction to drive or what to name a baby. Choice comes from the verb choose, which means to select something from different options.

• Real-life examples: Life is full of choices, ranging from what to eat for breakfast to what kind of job you want to have. Sadly, many people regret the choices they have made in life. We often face really tough choices where we don’t want to pick any of the options available.
• Used in a sentence: She was really happy with her choice of becoming a Hollywood actress. 

Choice also refers to a person or thing that is one of the possibilities a person can choose from.

• Used in a sentence: I’m pretty sure going into the woods at night was the wrong choice. 

Choice also describes something as being carefully chosen.

• Used in a sentence: We narrowed down the menu to a few choice dishes.

Where does choice come from?

The first records of choice come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Old French choisir, meaning “to choose.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to choice?

• choiceless (adjective)
• choicely (adverb)
• choiceness (noun)
• prechoice (noun)

What are some synonyms for choice?

• decision
• judgment
• selection
• option
• pick
• alternative

What are some words that share a root or word element with choice? 

• by choice
• of choice
• Hobson’s choice
• Sophie’s choice

What are some words that often get used in discussing choice?

• tough
• difficult
• good 
• bad
• wrong
• no

How is choice used in real life?

Choice is a very common word that means an act of picking something or an option that a person can choose.

My choice of music will tell you more about me than I ever will.

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) November 29, 2020

The 7-11 candy aisle gives me anxiety, too many choices.

— Sean O'Donnell (@TheSeanODonnell) January 11, 2016

 

Try using choice!

True or False?

A yes-or-no question has two choices for the answer.