choice

choice — noun

1. the act of picking one thing or one action from a set of possibilities; the chan

1.nounB1
Definition

the act of picking one thing or one action from a set of possibilities; the chance or right to decide what you want

Example

Priya faced a difficult choice between two jobs in different cities.

collocation: face a choice between

Every customer received a choice between a full refund or a store voucher.

pattern: give someone a choice between X and Y

Common collocations
  • make a choice
  • have a choice
  • face a choice
  • no choice but to
  • choice between
  • choice of
Synonyms
  • option

    focuses on one specific possibility among a set; 'a choice' often overlaps but can also mean the act itself

  • alternative

    suggests one possibility that replaces another, often when the first option is not available

  • preference

    what someone likes best rather than what is available to pick from

Grammar Patterns

make a choice

have a choice between/of

have no choice but to

Usage Note

Can be both countable (a choice, two choices) and uncountable (no choice, limited choice). The uncountable form is common after 'have no choice but to', where it means lacking any alternative.

Common Mistakes

I have no other choose.
I have no other choice.
'choose' is a verb; 'choice' is the noun form.

2. the range or number of different things, people, or options that are available f

2.nounB1
Definition

the range or number of different things, people, or options that are available for you to pick from

Example

The supermarket has a wide choice of fresh vegetables and organic fruits.

collocation: a wide choice of

Leila was pleased with the choice of courses at her new school this year.

Common collocations
  • wide choice
  • good choice
  • limited choice
  • great choice
  • choice of
  • so much choice
Synonyms
  • range

    more neutral, can describe any set of related items without the act of picking

  • variety

    emphasises that the available things are different from each other

  • selection

    slightly more formal; often used in retail contexts

Grammar Patterns

a wide choice of

a good choice of

limited choice

Usage Note

Typically used with adjectives like 'wide', 'good', 'limited', 'excellent', 'great' to describe the number of options. Always singular or uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'choices' when referring to a range.

Common Mistakes

The store has many choices of bread.
The store has a good choice of bread.
For the 'range' meaning, use 'a [adjective] choice of' rather than 'many choices'.

3. a person, item, or option that someone selects — or could select — from a group

3.nounB1
Definition

a person, item, or option that someone selects — or could select — from a group of possibilities

Example

Mei was the committee's first choice for the teaching job at the school.

collocation: first choice for [position]

This small café by the river is a popular choice among local office workers.

collocation: a popular choice among

Common collocations
  • first choice
  • popular choice
  • obvious choice
  • perfect choice
  • second choice
  • choice for
Synonyms
  • pick

    more informal; often used in casual conversation

  • selection

    slightly more formal, emphasises that careful thought went into the decision

  • favourite

    focuses on personal liking rather than a deliberate decision

Grammar Patterns

first choice

popular choice

someone's choice for

Usage Note

Countable only. Often used with 'first', 'second', 'popular', 'perfect', 'ideal' as modifiers. 'Of choice' (meaning 'preferred' or 'favourite') follows this sense: 'her restaurant of choice' means the restaurant she prefers to go to.

Common Mistakes

She is my first choose for the role.
She is my first choice for the role.
'choose' is a verb; use 'choice' as a noun here.
Idioms

be spoilt for choice

idiom

Having so many options that it's hard to decide.

At the dessert buffet, Mia was spoilt for choice.

With dozens of apps available, users are spoilt for choice.

by choice

idiom

Doing something because you want to, not because you have to.

Sara works on weekends by choice, not necessity.

Did you move to the countryside by choice?

of choice (for somebody/something)

idiom

Preferred by a particular group or for a specific purpose.

This brand is the detergent of choice for many families.

For graphic design, Adobe software is the tool of choice.

of your choice

idiom

That you select yourself.

You can pick any book of your choice from the shelf.

The winner receives a gift card to a store of their choice.

you pays your money and you takes your choice

idiom

Used to say that the options are equally good or bad, so it's up to you.

Both cars are reliable; you pays your money and you takes your choice.

The two hotels are similar, so you pays your money and you takes your choice.

choice — adjective

Word family

  • choose
    verbA2
  • chosen
    adjectiveB1
  • choosy
    adjectiveB2
  • chooser
    nounC1
  • unchosen
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Choice is the broadest word of the four. It covers both the act of picking and the set of things available to pick from. An option is one specific possibility within a choice set — 'there were three options to choose from.' An alternative often implies a replacement for something that is not possible or not wanted — 'if the train is full, the bus is a good alternative.' A preference is about personal liking rather than availability — 'my preference is tea, but coffee is fine too.' For example: 'You have a choice of three main courses. If you do not eat meat, the fish is a good alternative. My own preference is the pasta.'

choice ↗option ↗alternative ↗preference ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • by choice
  • of choice
  • first choice
  • second choice
  • no choice

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Choice entered English around the 1200s from Old French 'chois', a noun form of 'choisir' (to choose). The Old French verb itself came from a Germanic root *kausjan, meaning 'to test' or 'to taste' — the idea being that choosing involves sampling and evaluating. The adjective sense meaning 'of high quality' developed in the 1300s, based on the idea that what is carefully chosen is the best. By the 1500s, 'choice' had fully replaced the older English noun 'cure' (from Old English 'cyre', meaning choice).