choice

[ chois ]
See synonyms for: choicechoicestchoiceschoiceness on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. the person or thing chosen or eligible to be chosen: This book is my choice.He is one of many choices for the award.

  2. an alternative: There is another choice.

  3. an abundance or variety from which to choose: a wide choice of candidates.

  4. something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something: Mare's Nest is the choice in the sixth race.

  5. a carefully selected supply: This restaurant has a fine choice of wines.

  6. a choice grade of beef.

adjective,choic·er, choic·est.
  1. worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.

  2. carefully selected: choice words.

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

Idioms about choice

  1. of choice, that is generally preferred: A detached house is still the home of choice.

Origin of choice

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chois, from Old French, derived from choisir “to perceive, choose,” from Germanic; see choose

synonym study For choice

2. 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. 9. See fine1.

Other words for choice

Other words from choice

  • choiceless, adjective
  • choicely, adverb
  • choiceness, noun
  • pre·choice, noun

Words Nearby choice

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use choice in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for choice

choice

/ (tʃɔɪs) /


noun
  1. the act or an instance of choosing or selecting

  2. the opportunity or power of choosing

  1. a person or thing chosen or that may be chosen: he was a possible choice

  2. an alternative action or possibility: what choice did I have?

  3. a supply from which to select: a poor choice of shoes

  4. of choice preferred; favourite

adjective
  1. of superior quality; excellent: choice wine

  2. carefully chosen, appropriate: a few choice words will do the trick

  1. vulgar or rude: choice language

Origin of choice

1
C13: from Old French chois, from choisir to choose

Derived forms of choice

  • choicely, adverb
  • choiceness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with choice

choice

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.