Alternative

In natural language and in cognitive decision-making, alternative is  one of two things/(abstract or real objects)/actions which can be chosen. From a specific perspective/(point of view)/goal, alternatives are always equivalent.

In logic and mathematics, alternative is the element of logical disjunction. 

In different contexts alternative (or Alternativism) may refer to :

 Alternative rock, a style of rock music
 Alternative dance and Alternative metal, subgenres of alternative rock
 Alternative hip-hop
 Alternative country
 Alternative algebra, an abstract algebra with alternative multiplication
 Alternative comics, one of several labels applied to a range of comic strips and books
 Alternative comedy, a range of styles used by comedians and writers in the 1980s
 Alternative culture, a variety of subcultures outside or on the fringes of so-called accepted mainstream culture
 Alternative dispute resolution, processes and techniques outside the traditional mainstream of jurisprudence
 Alternative lifestyle, a lifestyle that it is not within the generally perceived cultural norm
 Alternative media, media practices falling outside the mainstreams of corporate communication
 Alternative medicine, methods and practices used in place of, or in addition to, conventional medical treatments
 Alternative society, alternative models for society and social change
 Alternative education, alternatives to traditional education
 Alternative school, a school geared towards students whose needs cannot be met in the traditional school such as underachievers who do not qualify for special education, rather than educational alternatives for all students