alternate history: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, literary, genre-specific (science fiction/fantasy)
Quick answer
What does “alternate history” mean?
A genre of fiction or a work within that genre in which historical events are imagined to have unfolded differently, often exploring 'what if' scenarios.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A genre of fiction or a work within that genre in which historical events are imagined to have unfolded differently, often exploring 'what if' scenarios.
A speculative or counterfactual narrative that reconstructs or reimagines the past based on a pivotal point of divergence from actual history. It can also refer to the academic study of such counterfactuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition. The compound is spelled as two words in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical. Associated with speculative fiction, historical analysis, and gaming.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US usage due to the larger market for genre fiction, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “alternate history” in a Sentence
alternate history of [event/nation]alternate history where/if/in whichwrite/read an alternate historyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alternate history” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The author likes to alternate history with fantasy in his writing.
- The documentary series will alternate history programmes with science shows.
American English
- The professor asked us to alternate history chapters with primary source readings.
- The cable channel tends to alternate history documentaries with reality TV.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Alternately' is not derived from this sense of 'alternate'.
- N/A
American English
- N/A. 'Alternately' is not derived from this sense of 'alternate'.
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in publishing/marketing contexts for genre classification.
Academic
Used in historical studies, literature, and cultural studies to discuss counterfactual methodologies or narrative genres.
Everyday
Used by enthusiasts of books, films, or games involving speculative timelines.
Technical
Specific term within literary criticism, historiography, and speculative fiction genres.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alternate history”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alternate history”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alternate history”
- Using 'alternative history' (common but less standard in professional genre circles).
- Confusing it with 'historical fiction' (which is based on real events, not divergent ones).
- Misspelling as one word: 'alternatehistory'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Historical fiction is set in the real past, while alternate history changes a key historical event and imagines the consequences.
Yes, cautiously. Historians sometimes use counterfactual reasoning (a form of alternate history) to analyse causality and the significance of events, though it is more common in popular and literary contexts.
In practice, they are often used interchangeably. However, 'alternate history' is the established term within the speculative fiction genre and publishing, while 'alternative history' is a more general calque sometimes used by non-specialists.
No. Alternate history must be explicitly connected to, and diverge from, known Earth history. A completely fictional secondary world is fantasy, not alternate history.
A genre of fiction or a work within that genre in which historical events are imagined to have unfolded differently, often exploring 'what if' scenarios.
Alternate history is usually formal, academic, literary, genre-specific (science fiction/fantasy) in register.
Alternate history: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɔːltəneɪt ˈhɪst(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɔltərnət ˈhɪstəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to be] an exercise in alternate history”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ALTER-NATE' as in to 'alter' or change the 'narrative' of history.
Conceptual Metaphor
HISTORY IS A PATH/STORY (with a fork/branch creating an alternate route).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of an 'alternate history'?