Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: chois, from choisir 'to choose'

choice

1 noun
     
choice1 S1 W1
1 [uncountable and countable] if you have a choice, you can choose between several things [↪ choose]
choice between
Voters have a choice between three main political parties.
choice of
You have a choice of hotel or self-catering accommodation.
You have a choice - you can stay here on your own or you can come with us.
She was faced with an agonizing choice.
We must encourage children to exercise choice and make their own decisions.
He has to make some important choices.
The booklet is supposed to help parents make informed choices (=good choices because they have the right information) for their children.
They gave us no choice in the matter.
We had no choice but to destroy the animal.
You have left me with no choice.
2 [singular] the range of people or things that you can choose from:
It was a small shop and there wasn't much choice.
choice of
There is a choice of four different colours.
We offer a wide choice of wines and beers.
Consumers these days are spoilt for choice (=have a lot of things to choose from). British English
3 [countable] the person or thing that someone chooses
choice of
I don't really like her choice of jewellery.
I think London was a good choice as a venue.
4

by choice

if you do something by choice, you do it because you want to do it and not because you are forced to do it:
She lives alone by choice.
5

the something of your choice

the person or thing of your choice is the one that you would most like to choose:
My children cannot go to the school of their choice.
6

the something of choice

the thing of choice is the one that people prefer to use:
It is the drug of choice for this type of illness.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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