Choice (noun) is the act of deciding between two or more possibilities, or the range of options that is available. As an adjective, choice means of very high quality. Example: The choice of vocabulary in an essay affects the overall impression it creates.
What Does Choice Mean?
Choice entered English in the 13th century from Old French chois, derived from choisir (to choose), which came from a Frankish Germanic root related to the Gothic kausjan (to taste, to test). The same Germanic root gives us the modern English verb choose. The sense of "excellent quality" — as in choice cuts of meat — developed in the 14th century and likely arose from the idea of something that has been carefully selected.
In everyday English, choice works as both a noun and an adjective. As a noun it covers three related ideas: the act of choosing (a difficult choice), the thing chosen (my first choice), and the range of options available (a wide choice of colours). This range of meaning makes it one of the most versatile and frequently used words in the language.
In academic and writing contexts, word choice (also called diction) refers to the specific vocabulary a writer selects. This is why the word appears so often in IELTS preparation materials and academic English courses — examiners assess vocabulary choice as a distinct criterion.
Example Sentences (A2 to C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| I had a choice between tea and coffee, so I chose tea. | A2 — basic choice between two options |
| The supermarket offers a wide choice of fresh vegetables every day. | B1 — choice as range of available options |
| Leaving the city was the right choice for our family at that time. | B1 — evaluating a decision already made |
| The choice of vocabulary in an essay affects the overall impression it creates. | B2 — academic/writing context; choice as noun phrase |
| Faced with no viable alternative, the committee had little choice but to postpone the conference. | C1 — formal register; fixed expression "have little choice but to" |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| make a choice | You need to make a choice before the deadline. |
| have a choice | Do we have a choice in the matter? |
| give someone a choice | The teacher gave us a choice of essay topics. |
| face a choice | She faced a difficult choice between her career and her family. |
| a wide choice (of) | The library has a wide choice of reference books. |
| a difficult / tough choice | It was a tough choice, but she chose to stay. |
| the right / wrong choice | In hindsight, it was clearly the wrong choice. |
| freedom of choice | Freedom of choice is central to democratic values. |
| by choice | He lives alone by choice — he prefers his own company. |
| of choice | Python has become the programming language of choice for data scientists. |
Usage Notes
How to Use Choice Correctly
Noun — the act of selecting: Always use make or have with choice: make a choice, have no choice. Never use do a choice.
Noun — range of options: Use a wide/large/good choice of to describe variety: a wide choice of accommodation. The noun phrase takes a singular verb: There is a wide choice of options.
Adjective — excellent quality: In this sense, choice comes before the noun: choice ingredients, choice cuts of beef. This usage is more common in formal, culinary, or literary contexts.
Fixed expressions: By choice = voluntarily. Of choice = preferred, most commonly used. Have no choice but to + infinitive = be forced to do something.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
I did a choice between the two options.
I made a choice between the two options. (use make, not do)
She choiced the blue dress.
She chose the blue dress. (choice is a noun, not a verb — use choose / chose)
There are a wide choice of courses available.
There is a wide choice of courses available. (a choice is singular — singular verb)