choice
Pluralchoices
Pluralchoices
- 1When you pick one thing from two or more, or one of the things you can pick from.
Like picking one candy from a jar full of different kinds.
You have a choice between the red shirt and the blue one.
There were so many choices on the menu that she couldn't decide.
UsageSay make a choice (not
incorrect: do a choice). You choose between two things.Similardecision
- 2The thing you picked, or what you decided in the end.
Like the one toy you keep after looking at all of them.
Pizza was her choice for dinner tonight.
He stood by his choice even when his friends disagreed.
UsagePeople say a good choice or the right choice.
Similarpick, preference
- 3The freedom or ability to decide things for yourself.
Like being allowed to decide for yourself which road to take.
Everyone should have a choice about their own future.
Having a choice makes people feel free.
UsageHave no choice but to do something means you must do it.
Similarsay, freedom, control, discretion
Note
- 4Enough things to be able to pick from.
The shop has a big choice of shoes in every size.
And, which is more, she is not so divine, / So full replete with choice of all delights
c. 1591, William Shakespeare, Henry VIHere, choice means a large supply to pick from.UsageSay a wide choice of or a good choice of things.
Similarselection
Note
- 5Especially good, or of very high quality.
Like the best pick of fruit, set aside just for you.
The butcher saved a choice cut of beef for us.
These are choice apples, the best in the whole market.
UsageUsed before a noun, as in choice meat, meaning very good.
Similarprime, select, quality, prize
Oppositeinferior, poor, substandard
Note
Less common meanings
- 6Used about words that are very direct, angry, or rude, said to show you strongly dislike something.
When the referee made a bad call, the coach had a few choice words for him.
Our angry neighbor left a note full of choice language about our loud party.
UsageA few choice words is a polite way to refer to angry or rude words.
Similarstrong, harsh, colorful
Note
- 7
- 8
- 9Care and good judgment used when picking something.
I imagine they [the apothegms of Caesar] were collected with judgment and choice.
1625, Francis [Bacon], Apophthegmes New and Old.Here, choice means care and good judgment in picking things.Note
- 10Careful and picky when choosing things.
One day the cabin steward made me a present of some molasses, which I was so choice of that I kept it hid away in a tin can in the farthest corner of my bunk.
1847, Herman Melville, Omoo: A Narrative of Adventures in the South Seas - 11Short form of axiom of choice. Mathematicians use this as a quick name for that rule about picking from sets.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
Old French chois came from the verb choisir, "to choose," and Middle English took it as chois. Its older roots are Germanic words meaning "to choose," and it is related to choose.
From Middle English, formed when the noun above merged with another Middle English word meaning "choice" or "excellent," from Old English ċīes.
Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- The adjective derives from Middle English through a merger of the noun and another Middle English word. en.wiktionary.org
- The other Middle English word meant choice or excellent. en.wiktionary.org
- That Middle English word derives from Old English ċīes. en.wiktionary.org