alterative: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical (historical medicine)
Quick answer
What does “alterative” mean?
Having the power to alter or change something, especially in a gradual or restorative way.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Having the power to alter or change something, especially in a gradual or restorative way.
In historical/medical contexts, a substance or treatment believed to gradually restore healthy bodily function. More broadly, anything that produces a gradual change or correction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally archaic/rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it carries a formal, somewhat antiquated connotation, often associated with 18th–19th century medicine.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora, with perhaps slightly higher historical attestation in British texts due to older medical traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “alterative” in a Sentence
be + alterative (to something)have/has + alterative + effect/propertiesconsider/view as + alterativeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alterative” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'alterative' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'alterative' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form ('alteratively' is not attested for this sense).
American English
- N/A - No standard adverbial form ('alteratively' is not attested for this sense).
adjective
British English
- The physician prescribed an alterative tonic to improve the patient's constitution.
- They sought an alterative regimen for his chronic condition.
American English
- Herbalists once valued the plant for its alterative properties.
- The treatment was seen as alterative, not curative.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in historical studies of medicine or pharmacology.
Everyday
Extremely rare; likely to be misunderstood as 'alternative'.
Technical
Obsolete term in medicine; may appear in historical phytotherapy or herbalism texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alterative”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alterative”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alterative”
- Misspelling as 'alternative'.
- Using it in modern contexts where 'alternative' or 'restorative' is intended.
- Pronouncing it with a strong 'native' ending like in 'alternative'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different words. 'Alternative' refers to a choice between options. 'Alterative' is an archaic term meaning 'having the power to gradually alter or restore', mainly used in old medical contexts.
It is not recommended. It is an obscure, dated word that will likely confuse readers who will assume you mean 'alternative'. Use 'restorative', 'corrective', or 'modifying' instead.
In British English: /ˈɔːlt(ə)rətɪv/ (AWL-truh-tiv). In American English: /ˈɔːltəreɪtɪv/ (AWL-ter-ay-tiv). Stress is on the first syllable.
It is recorded because it appears in historical and literary texts. Dictionaries document the full history of a language, including words that have fallen out of common use but are needed to understand older writings.
Having the power to alter or change something, especially in a gradual or restorative way.
Alterative is usually formal, technical (historical medicine) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common usage.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ALTER-nATIVE. It's an older word that ALTERs the body's state (like an alternative medicine might).
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS BALANCE / CHANGE IS A JOURNEY (a gradual, corrective journey back to health).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'alterative' most accurately used today?