choice

[chois] /tʃɔɪs/
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, choicer, choicest.
9.
worthy of being chosen; excellent; superior.
10.
carefully selected:
choice words.
11.
(in the grading of beef in the U.S.) rated between prime and good.
Idioms
12.
of choice, that is generally preferred:
A detached house is still the home of choice.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English chois < Old French, derivative of choisir to perceive, choose < Germanic; see choose
Related forms
choiceless, adjective
choicely, adverb
choiceness, noun
prechoice, noun
Synonyms
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. select, rare, uncommon, valuable, precious. See fine1 .
Examples from the web for choice
  • Asphalt composition shingles are a popular choice because of their low price point and long life.
  • It seems an odd choice of words to describe anything in this war-torn region.
  • There is absolutely no choice but for it to improve.
  • Plus, being exposed to cosmic radiation for years and years and years cannot be a good lifestyle choice.
  • With only two weeks left until the concert, they had no other choice.
  • It has energized research into global health, made that work a credible career choice and attracted politicians to the cause.
  • Not only had he been the choice of his party's nominating caucus, but he had served.
  • When all tourism stopped because of the oil spill, she had no choice but to close.
  • It is also brilliantly written: dense with wry descriptions of choice observations.
  • The authors conducted four studies to see whether participants benefited from having more choice.
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
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
7.
of superior quality; excellent: choice wine
8.
carefully chosen, appropriate: a few choice words will do the trick
9.
vulgar or rude: choice language
Derived Forms
choicely, adverb
choiceness, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French chois, from choisir to choose
Word Origin and History for choice
n.

mid-14c., "that which is choice," from choice (adj.) blended with earlier chois (n.) "action of selecting" (c.1300); "power of choosing" (early 14c.), "someone or something chosen" (late 14c.), from Old French chois "one's choice; fact of having a choice" (12c., Modern French choix), from verb choisir "to choose, distinguish, discern; recognize, perceive, see," from a Germanic source related to Old English ceosan "to choose, taste, try;" see choose. Late Old English chis "fastidious, choosy," from or related to ceosan, probably also contributed to the development of choice. Replaced Old English cyre "choice, free will," from the same base, probably because the imported word was closer to choose [see note in OED].

adj.

"worthy to be chosen, distinguished, excellent," mid-14c., from choice (n.). Related: Choiceness.

Slang definitions & phrases for choice

choice

modifier

Very nice; sweet: had a choice time at the event


Related Abbreviations for choice

CHOICE

Center for Humanitarian Outreach and Intercultural Exchange
Idioms and Phrases with choice

choice

see:
also see under:
choose
Encyclopedia Article for choice

in philosophy, a corollary of the proposition of free will-i.e., the ability voluntarily to decide to perform one of several possible acts or to avoid action entirely. An ethical choice involves ascribing qualities such as right or wrong, good or bad, better or worse to alternatives.

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