alternative universe

plural alternative universes · alternative US alternate universe

1. astronomyA hypothetical world situated in a different dimension of space and time than the real world consisting of the universe known and experienced by human beings.

   1 more example

   In particular, it has been argued that if any of six (or perhaps a few more) numbers did not have rather particular values, then life as we know it would not be possible; atoms would not exist, or no grativationally bound structures would form in the Universe, or some other calamity would occur that would appear to make the alternative universe a very dull and lifeless place. How, then, did we get so lucky as to be here?

   2007 June 21, Bernard Carr, editor, Universe Or Multiverse?, page 367

   Synonyms: alternative world, heterocosm, parallel world

2. human sciencesAn imaginary realm, often a variant form of the real world or of the fictional universe usually depicted in a work, depicting a different way events could have unfolded or the universe could have functioned.

   This mirroring was marked out by the way in which the Federation of Planets, a voluntary association of different worlds, never existed in the alternative universe; instead we find ourselves confronting a vicious militaristic Terran empire.

   2022 June 13, S. Sayyid, Recalling the Caliphate – Decolonization and World Order

   Synonyms: alternative dimension, parallel dimension, parallel universe