18 Other Ways to Say Second Choice (With Examples)

You are often looking for the right words to describe a backup plan. Sometimes the phrase second choice feels a bit too harsh or simple. Whether you are talking about jobs, dating, or even a simple dinner pick, using different terms can help you sound more natural and clear in your speech.

18 Other Ways to Say Second Choice (With Examples)

Plan B

This is likely the most common way to talk about having a backup. People use this phrase when their first idea does not work out at all. It sounds very organized and smart. You are telling others that you have thought ahead and have another path ready to go. It feels proactive rather than sad. It shows you are prepared for any trouble that might come your way during a project or a busy day at work.

We need a Plan B now.
Is this our new Plan B?
They went with Plan B instead.
My Plan B is very simple.
Always have a solid Plan B.
Plan B saved the whole day.

Backup Option

When you have a safety net, you call it a backup option. This term is great because it sounds professional and very reliable. It suggests that you are not stuck if things go wrong. Most people use this when buying things or picking a school. It means you have a solid alternative that you still like quite a bit. It takes the pressure off your top pick and makes you feel much more relaxed and safe.

This is my best backup option.
Do you have a backup option?
Keep that as a backup option.
Her backup option was quite good.
We found a great backup option.
That backup option is very cheap.

Alternative Pick

An alternative pick sounds like a very conscious and deliberate decision. You are choosing something else because it still fits your needs well. It does not feel like a failure to use this term. Instead, it feels like you are just exploring another good path. This is a perfect phrase to use during a meeting or a group chat. It keeps the energy positive and shows that you are flexible and open to many different ideas.

Try this alternative pick today.
The alternative pick is very fast.
Check out my latest alternative pick.
Is that your only alternative pick?
Their alternative pick worked out well.
I love this new alternative pick.

Runner Up

We usually hear this one during contests or sports games. It means you were very close to being the winner. It carries a lot of respect and honor. When you call something a runner up, you are saying it is almost as good as the best one. It is a high quality choice that just missed the top spot by a little bit. Use this when you want to give a compliment to the other choice.

The runner up was very fast.
He finished as the runner up.
My runner up is this red car.
She was a proud runner up.
The runner up got a prize.
This soup is a close runner up.

Fallback Plan

A fallback plan is what you use when things get messy. It acts like a cushion to catch you. This phrase is very common in business or when traveling. It implies that you hope to use your first choice, but you are smart enough to have a safety switch. Using this word makes you sound like a leader who knows how to handle risks. It is a very sturdy and dependable way to describe your second option.

What is your main fallback plan?
This fallback plan is very safe.
We created a new fallback plan.
The fallback plan is ready now.
Stick to the original fallback plan.
Every team needs a fallback plan.

Secondary Preference

This is a slightly more formal way to talk about what you like. It means that while you have a favorite, this is the one you would pick right after it. It sounds very polite and clear. You might use this on a form or in a serious talk with a boss. It shows that you have a list of things you like in order. It is a very precise way to express your personal tastes clearly.

Blue is my secondary preference here.
State your secondary preference on top.
That is a common secondary preference.
My secondary preference is much cheaper.
List every secondary preference you have.
Your secondary preference is noted now.

Substitute Choice

A substitute choice is something that takes the place of the original. Think about a teacher or a player in a game. This word means the second option is doing the exact same job as the first one. It is very functional and practical. You use this when you need to fill a gap quickly. It tells the reader that the replacement is just as capable and ready to work as the primary choice was before.

This is a fair substitute choice.
Pick a good substitute choice today.
Is that a viable substitute choice?
The substitute choice arrived very late.
I need a quick substitute choice.
That substitute choice smells really good.

Contingency Pick

This word sounds very professional and technical. A contingency pick is something you choose only if a specific event happens. It is all about being ready for “what if” moments. It shows that you are a deep thinker who plans for the future. You often hear this in big companies or law. It is a very strong way to say you have a backup that is specifically designed for a certain type of emergency situation.

Where is your latest contingency pick?
This contingency pick is for rain.
The team made a contingency pick.
Trust your own best contingency pick.
A contingency pick helps everyone relax.
That was a smart contingency pick.

Understudy

An understudy is a term from the theater. It is a person who learns a role to replace the main star if they get sick. Using this as a metaphor for a second choice is very creative. It means the backup is fully trained and ready to shine at any moment. It suggests the second choice is actually very talented and high quality. It is a fun and unique way to describe a person or a backup plan.

He acted as the main understudy.
The understudy knew every single line.
She was the best understudy ever.
Our understudy stayed in the wings.
The understudy performed for the crowd.
Hire a very talented new understudy.

Standby Option

A standby option is something that is waiting and ready. You might hear this at the airport. It means the choice is right there, just waiting for the signal to start. It is very convenient and close by. This phrase gives a feeling of being on the edge of action. It is not hidden away in a box. It is active and prepared to step in the very second it is needed by the person in charge.

Keep him as a standby option.
The standby option is quite cheap.
We used the first standby option.
Is there a better standby option?
Your standby option is now active.
This standby option works very well.

Replacement Pick

This is a very simple and direct term. A replacement pick is used when the first one is gone or broken. It is a very clear way to communicate change. There is no confusion when you use this word. It tells everyone that the old choice is out and the new one is in. It is helpful in stores or when managing a team of people. It focuses on the action of filling a hole left behind.

This replacement pick is very shiny.
Who is the new replacement pick?
That replacement pick fits just right.
I found a sturdy replacement pick.
The replacement pick costs ten dollars.
Send the replacement pick in now.

Following Choice

The following choice is simply the one that comes next in a list. It is a very logical way to speak. It does not carry much emotion, which can be good if you want to stay neutral. It just shows the order of things. You might use this when explaining a process or a series of steps. It helps the reader follow your logic easily. It makes your writing feel organized and very easy to understand for everyone.

Read the following choice very carefully.
The following choice is much better.
Is the following choice available now?
I prefer the following choice instead.
Make the following choice your priority.
That following choice seems very bright.

Spare Option

A spare option is like a spare tire. You do not want to use it, but you are very glad you have it. It is something extra that sits on the side just in case. This term feels very practical and down to earth. It suggests that the choice is simple and functional. It is not fancy, but it gets the job done when you are in a pinch. It is a very relatable and honest way to talk.

I have a spare option here.
Take the spare option with you.
This spare option is a lifesaver.
Do you need a spare option?
The spare option is in back.
Keep a spare option for later.

Ancillary Pick

This is a fancy word that means something extra or supportive. An ancillary pick is not the main star, but it helps the whole situation work better. It is a very smart way to describe a second choice that adds value. You might use this in a college essay or a business report. It shows that you have a deep vocabulary. It suggests that the second choice is helpful and provides extra support to the main goal.

The ancillary pick was very helpful.
Consider an ancillary pick for this.
That ancillary pick adds more power.
Is the ancillary pick ready yet?
We bought an expensive ancillary pick.
This ancillary pick works very silently.

Subordinate Choice

A subordinate choice is one that ranks lower than the first one. This word comes from the idea of a hierarchy. It is very clear about which choice is more important. It is a formal term that you might use in a logical argument or a scientific paper. It helps define the relationship between your different options. It shows that you have a clear structure in your mind and you know how to rank your various priorities.

Mark it as a subordinate choice.
The subordinate choice is less vital.
Every subordinate choice must be checked.
Is that your final subordinate choice?
This subordinate choice is quite small.
Rank each subordinate choice by size.

Proxy Option

A proxy is something that acts on behalf of another. A proxy option is a second choice that stands in for the first one perfectly. It is a very clever way to say that the backup is just as good as the original. You use this when the two choices are almost identical in value or function. It sounds very technical and modern. It is a great way to describe a replacement that does not lose any quality at all.

Use the proxy option for now.
The proxy option is very fast.
Is this a good proxy option?
Their proxy option failed the test.
Select a proxy option from here.
The proxy option looks like gold.

Next Best Thing

This is a very friendly and conversational phrase. It means that while you cannot have the best, this is the very next level. It sounds very positive and happy. People use this when they are trying to be cheerful about a change in plans. It implies that the second choice is still amazing and worth having. It is a very warm way to talk to your friends or family about your different decisions and choices.

It is the next best thing.
Try the next best thing today.
This is the next best thing.
Is there a next best thing?
Found the next best thing here.
The next best thing is great.

Side Choice

A side choice is something that is not in the center of your focus. It sits to the side like a side dish at dinner. It is a very casual and easy way to describe an alternative. It feels low pressure and relaxed. You might use this when talking about hobbies or minor plans. It tells the reader that this choice is available but not the most important thing on your plate right now. It is very simple.

Pick a side choice for fun.
This side choice is very tasty.
What is your favorite side choice?
The side choice is on sale.
Keep that side choice in mind.
A side choice makes life better.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list of other ways to say second choice helps you find the perfect words for your next conversation. Having a backup plan is always a smart move, and now you can talk about it in many fun ways. Using different words makes your writing more interesting and helps you connect with others. Whether you use a professional term or a casual one, you are now ready to explain your backup plans with style and total confidence.