option

noun

One of a set of choices that can be made.

The freedom or right to choose.

(finance, law) A contract giving the holder the right to buy or sell an asset at a set strike price; can apply to financial market transactions, or to ordinary transactions for tangible assets such as a residence or automobile.

(law, uncountable) The acquiring or retention of a nationality through personal choice as a right, bypassing selective legal mechanisms for naturalization, especially in cases where a territory is transferred or passed on from one state to another.

verb

To purchase an option on something.

(computing, dated) To configure, by setting an option.

Roots

optoopt- · Latin · choose, wish

Synonyms for option

choicen alternativen selectionn optionalityn preferencen druthersn recoursen

Synonyms & related words for option

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of option — including choice, alternative, selection, optionality, preference, druthers. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to option

Explore words related to option — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include opt, choose, chooser, chose, pick, select, optional, selectness. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for option

Common synonyms for option include choice, alternative, selection, optionality, preference, druthers, recourse — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does option come from?

The word option breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root opt-, from Latin opto (“choose, wish”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.