choice
An option; a decision; an opportunity to choose or select something.
Word facts
Definition of Choice
One selection or preference; that which is chosen or decided; the outcome of a decision.
Example sentences
You have a difficult choice to make before tomorrow.
Picking a dessert was an easy choice for her.
Using Choice well
A closer look at how choice is used — meaning in plain English, how close synonyms differ, and examples at different levels.
The act of picking one option from two or more, or the thing you pick.
Use it for the general idea of selecting among options, or for the option itself. As an adjective ('choice cuts'), it means selected for high quality.
Everywhere in everyday English — menus, decision-making, shopping, and phrases like 'make a choice' or 'freedom of choice'; the adjective sense is common in food and marketing copy.
Do not confuse the noun 'choice' with the verb 'choose' or its past tense 'chose'. 'Choice' is the thing or act; 'choose/chose' is the doing.
- option
- more neutral and countable — an option is one of the things you can choose, while a choice is the act or the selection itself
- selection
- more formal; emphasizes the range available ('a wide selection') or a curated set
- pick
- casual and personal — 'my pick' feels like a favorite or recommendation
- alternative
- implies a second option set against a first, often when the default is undesirable
- preference
- shifts focus to what you like best rather than the act of choosing
- obligation
- something you must do, leaving no room to choose
- necessity
- a forced course of action rather than a free selection
- compulsion
- stronger — an external or internal force that removes choice entirely
- Beginner You have a choice: tea or coffee.
- In writing Faced with two strong candidates, the committee found the final choice surprisingly hard to make.
- Advanced In matters of conscience, the freedom to choose is meaningless unless every choice carries a real cost.
A 'choice' is the noun; you 'choose' (verb) to arrive at it — the extra 'i' marks the result of the action.
Synonyms for Choice
Related words
Words closely connected to Choice in meaning or use:
Words that rhyme with Choice
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What does choice mean?
An option; a decision; an opportunity to choose or select something. It is a noun.
How many syllables does choice have?
Choice is a one-syllable word, said in a single beat: choice.
What part of speech is choice?
In a sentence, choice functions as a noun. As a noun, it names a thing, idea, or concept.
What are synonyms for choice?
Close in meaning to choice are fine, prime, quality, alternative — choose the one whose tone fits your sentence.
How do you use choice in a sentence?
Example: "You have a difficult choice to make before tomorrow."