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[ suhb-sti-toot, -tyoot ]

/ ˈsʌb stɪˌtut, -ˌtyut /

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


noun

a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

(formerly) a person who, for payment, served in an army or navy in the place of a conscript.

Grammar. a word that functions as a replacement for any member of a class of words or constructions, as do in He doesn’t know but I do.

verb (used with object), sub·sti·tut·ed, sub·sti·tut·ing.

to put (a person or thing) in the place of another.

to take the place of; replace.

Chemistry. to replace (one or more elements or groups in a compound) by other elements or groups.

verb (used without object), sub·sti·tut·ed, sub·sti·tut·ing.

adjective

of or relating to a substitute or substitutes.

composed of substitutes.

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Origin of substitute

1350–1400; Middle English <Latin substitūtus (past participle of substituere to put in place of), equivalent to sub-sub- + -stitū-, combining form of statū-, past participle stem of statuere (see substituent) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM substitute

sub·sti·tut·a·ble, adjectivesub·sti·tut·a·bil·i·ty, nounsub·sti·tut·er, nounsub·sti·tut·ing·ly, adverb

sub·sti·tu·tion, nounsub·sti·tu·tion·al, sub·sti·tu·tion·ar·y [suhb-sti-too-shuh-ner-ee, —tyoo-], /ˌsʌb stɪˈtu ʃəˌnɛr i, -ˈtyu-/, adjectivesub·sti·tu·tion·al·ly, adverbin·ter·sub·sti·tut·a·bil·i·ty, nounin·ter·sub·sti·tut·a·ble, adjectivein·ter·sub·sti·tu·tion, nounnon·sub·sti·tut·ed, adjectivenon·sub·sti·tu·tion, nounnon·sub·sti·tu·tion·al, adjectivenon·sub·sti·tu·tion·al·ly, adverbnon·sub·sti·tu·tion·ar·y, adjectivepre·sub·sti·tute, verb (used with object), pre·sub·sti·tut·ed, pre·sub·sti·tut·ing.pre·sub·sti·tu·tion, nounpro·sub·sti·tu·tion, adjectiveun·sub·sti·tut·ed, adjective

Words nearby substitute

substantive rank, substantive right, substantivize, substation, substituent, substitute, substitution, substitution cipher, substitution reaction, substitutive, substitutivity

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SUBSTITUTE

What does substitute mean?

A substitute is someone or something that takes the place of another person or thing. As a verb, to substitute means to make such a switch.

Substitute is used in a variety of contexts, but it is perhaps most commonly associated with substitute teachers and players in team sports who replace a player in the game. In both cases, the word is often shortened as sub.

Example: Mr. Jones was sick today so we had a substitute.

Where does substitute come from?

The first records of substitute come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin word substitūtus, from the verb substituere, meaning “to put in place of.”

Substitute teachers replace the regular teacher when they are unable to teach, typically because they are sick. A substitute usually only serves in that role for a day or two, but there are also long-term substitutes who replace a teacher for longer periods of time, such as when they’re on maternity leave.

In sports, a substitute is a player who replaces a player who is currently playing. This can be done for a number of reasons. In soccer (football), substitutes are often used late in a game to replace players who are tired. In basketball, subs are used throughout the game to give players a break. Substitute players are often said to come from the bench, which is a way of referring to the place where players sit when they are not playing, as well as a way to refer to the substitute players collectively.

Substitute is used in many other contexts as both a noun and a verb. In grammar, substitute is used as a noun to refer to a word that serves as a particular kind of replacement. In chemistry, to substitute is to replace one or more elements or groups in a molecule. People often refer to artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes.

Substitute is synonymous with replacement, and it can appear in phrases and expressions that discuss replacing things, as in There is no substitute for hard work.

Did you know … ?

How is substitute used in real life?

Substitute is used in many different contexts. It’s most commonly used in reference to substitute teachers and substitutes on sports teams.

i like to categorize people by whether or not they could effectively quiet a classroom as a substitute teacher

— rbf rin (@rinskye) March 7, 2020

How does a team have so much quality that they rely on their substitutes to make the impact and win it for them in every game #belgium

— all about energy & space (@aljay_luv) July 1, 2014

There is no substitute for hand washing. https://t.co/eeYfIgEBDh pic.twitter.com/eW0LGmw4Ry

— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) March 3, 2020

Try using substitute!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of substitute?

A. fill-in
B. stand-in
C. alternate
D. primary

Words related to substitute

backup, replacement, stand-in, surrogate, replace, supplant, swap, acting, alternate, counterfeit, dummy, ersatz, imitation, makeshift, mock, near, proxy, pseudo, representative, reserve

How to use substitute in a sentence

  • In place of dark matter, they substitute a subtly modified force of gravity.

  • Educators across the spectrum have acknowledged that online teaching, no matter its quality, is a poor substitute for in-person teaching.

  • Gödel’s extra insight was that he could substitute a formula’s own Gödel number in the formula itself, leading to no end of trouble.

  • Many leaders have acknowledged that online education is a poor substitute for in-person learning.

  • “I think we’re substituting one form of inequity for another,” Wulfeck said.

  • The substitute nurse says to him in a stage whisper, “You know, the doctor says no vodka.”

  • But in the end there is no substitute for government when it comes to war fighting.

  • Innovation is a poor substitute for insight, at least where boyhood is concerned.

  • This clean source of caffeine is the next noble, and healthy, substitute for your daily cup of coffee.

  • Annunziato and Akerman are in agreement that CrowdMed is best deployed as a supplement, not a substitute.

  • The «torfuge» (Fig. 31) is said to be a very satisfactory substitute for the centrifuge, and is readily portable.

  • Loss, where she was concerned, involved a permanent and irremediable bereavement—no substitute was conceivable.

  • If the auctioneer could afterward do this he might change the name, substitute another, and so perpetrate a fraud.

  • If any one of the parts should be lost or broken, it would require some ability in that country to contrive a substitute.

  • When sedimentation only is desired, the torfuge (Fig. 31) is a cheap and convenient substitute.

British Dictionary definitions for substitute


verb

(often foll by for) to serve or cause to serve in place of another person or thing

chem to replace (an atom or group in a molecule) with (another atom or group)

logic maths to replace (one expression) by (another) in the context of a third, as replacing x + y for x in 3 x = k gives 3 x + 3 y = k

noun

  1. a person or thing that serves in place of another, such as a player in a game who takes the place of an injured colleague
  2. (as modifier)a substitute goalkeeper Often shortened to: sub

grammar another name for pro-form

(formerly) a person paid to replace another due for military service

Derived forms of substitute

substitutable, adjectivesubstitutability, noun

Word Origin for substitute

C16: from Latin substituere, from sub- in place of + statuere to set up

usage for substitute

Substitute is sometimes wrongly used where replace is meant: he replaced (not substituted) the worn tyre with a new one

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Noun



you’ll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better



if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe

Verb



One of our teachers is sick, so we need someone to substitute.



They substituted real candles with electric ones.

Recent Examples on the Web



Still, for the full Rincon experience, there’s no substitute for the Rincon Reservation Road Brewery’s airy tasting room.


Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2023





But what there’s no substitute for is the performances.


Emily Treadgold, Variety, 27 Mar. 2023





Things were made tougher as Leonardo Bonucci, Paul Pogba, Arkadiusz Milik and Alex Sandro were all ruled out with injuries, while a lack of fitness meant Angel Di Maria and Federico Chiesa could only be named as substitutes.


Adam Digby, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023





There’s no real substitute for actually traveling to where the murals are, viewing them in situ.


Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2023





In 233 total tests on 26 simulated spacesuits, the pressurized liquid nitrogen removed more than 98 percent of the moon dust substitute.


Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Mar. 2023





Lawmakers also added a committee amendment to the substitute of the measure mid-meeting.


Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 2 Mar. 2023





While most games are compatible with a standard controller or mouse-and-keyboard setup, for greater precision and realism in flying games, there’s no substitute for a joystick or yoke.


Harry Rabinowitz And Matt Ng, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2023





The perfect substitute for heavy cream or milk, Miss Mary’s syrups create a creamy sweetness without any artificial flavorings, preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup.


Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023




Both Martin and Proulx make clear, however, that not even the most sophisticated restoration methods can substitute for protecting ecosystems in the first place.


Michelle Nijhuis, The New York Review of Books, 30 Mar. 2023





Witness the budget Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveiled last week that substitutes subsidized day care for an economic-growth plan.


The Editorial Board, WSJ, 19 Mar. 2023





Nonalcoholic wines are now much more widely available, and can easily be substituted.


Kate Merker, Country Living, 19 Mar. 2023





But there are more intricate designs available that can substitute for engagement rings as well as stackable bands that are more casual for those who prefer costume jewelry or an everyday look.


Good Housekeeping, 15 Mar. 2023





In addition, municipalities have to submit a report to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency detailing how the lines will be substituted.


Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2023





The letter said measures like substituting amoxicillin with other antibiotics have squeezed supply of some other drugs — and that the current steps in place to deal with the shortages have not contained the crisis.


Maureen Mackey, Fox News, 26 Mar. 2023





During a board of education meeting Jan. 24, Henn amended the county capital budget request, substituting a high school identified for replacement with a vague project description to open up usage possibilities.


Sabrina Leboeuf, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023





The invention is often quoted as being accidental, with Wakefield running out of nuts and substituting them with pieces of chocolate from a Nestlé bar.


Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 22 Mar. 2023



See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘substitute.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Варианты (v1)

Варианты (v2)

  • substitute [ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt] сущ

    1. заменаж, заменительм, замещениеср, подменаж, подстановкаж

      (replace, replacement, substitution)

      • find a substitute – найти замену
      • salt substitute – заменитель соли
      • substitute product – продукт замещения
      • poor substitute – жалкая подмена
    2. заместительм

      (vice)

    3. суррогатм, эрзацм

      (surrogate, ersatz)

      • cheap substitute – дешевый суррогат
    4. субститутм

      (substitution)

  • substitute [ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt] гл

    1. подставлять, подставить

      (expose)

    2. заменять, замещать, заменить, подменять, подменить, заместить

      (replace)

      • substitute the words – заменить словами
  • substitute [ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt] прил

    1. запасной, альтернативный

      (spare, alternative)

      • substitute judge – запасной судья
    2. суррогатный

      (surrogate)

      • substitute mother – суррогатная мать
    3. заместительский

    4. заместительный

      (substitution)

    5. подменный

noun
заменитель substitute, replacement, surrogate, ersatz, succedaneum, sub
замена replacement, exchange, change, substitution, substitute, commutation
суррогат surrogate, substitute, ersatz, imitation, sub
заместитель deputy, vice, alternate, substitute, proxy, surrogate
verb
подставлять substitute
замещать replace, substitute, surrogate, override, displace, act
заменять replace, substitute, surrogate, interchange, change, supersede
подменивать substitute, replace

Синонимы (v1)

Синонимы (v2)

  • substitute сущ

    • replace · stand in
    • replacement · replacer · change
    • alternative · alternate · deputy
    • supplant · supersede · displace · deputize
    • swap · exchange
    • ersatz · surrogate

noun

  • replacement, deputy, relief, proxy, reserve, surrogate, cover, stand-in, locum (tenens), understudy, sub, pinch-hitter
  • replacement
  • fill-in, backup, reliever, stand-in, relief
  • reserve, second-stringer

verb

  • exchange, replace, use instead of, use as an alternative to, use in place of, swap
  • deputize, act as deputy, act as a substitute, stand in, cover, replace, relieve, take over from, sub, fill someone’s boots/shoes
  • exchange, interchange, replace
  • deputize, step in
  • sub, fill in, stand in

adjective

  • acting, supply, replacement, deputy, relief, reserve, surrogate, stand-in, temporary, caretaker, interim, provisional
  • ersatz
  • utility
  • alternate, alternative

Предложения со словом «substitute»

Do a search and replace operation on the text of your mind, and wherever you encounter the word self, substitute the word other.

Произведите операцию поиска и замены в тексте вашего разума, и когда вам повстречается слово «сам», замените его на «остальные».

Sometimes we substitute hope by emphasizing the best-case scenario.

Иногда мы подменяем надежду оптимистичным сценарием.

Tractors were developed to substitute mechanical power for human physical toil.

Тракторы были придуманы, чтобы заменить изнуряющий физический труд механическим.

If family dinner is out because of your crazy work schedule, maybe family breakfast could be a good substitute .

Если семейный ужин не укладывается в ваше сумасшедшее расписание, его может заменить семейный завтрак.

If you don’t substitute two amino acids, if you don’t say ATXY, if you say ATCG + XY, then you go from 20 building blocks to 172.

Если не менять аминокислоты и создать комбинацию A — T — C — G + X — Y, а не A — T — X — Y, то число строительных блоков увеличится с 20 до 172.

It can also be combined with other memory techniques such as rhyming, substitute words, or the method of loci.

Он также может быть объединен с другими методами запоминания, такими как рифмование, замена слов или метод локусов.

The company knew that that sugar substitute was deadly.

Компания знала, что заменитель сахара был смертельно опасен.

I have lived my life and not some substitute

Я прожила жизнь и никогда не искала замены ей.

A blood substitute is a solution but not a cure.

Заменитель крови решает проблему, но не устраняет её.

Sometimes there’s no substitute for intensive osteopathic pressure therapy.

Иногда ничто не может заменить интенсивный остеопатический жесткий массаж.

The smell of the stables and the land winds which came in over the high walls were a poor substitute for the keen freshness of the sea.

Запах конюшни и проникающие за высокие стены сухопутные ветры слабо заменяли холодную морскую свежесть.

Addictive substances are no substitute for nature’s healing balm.

Вещества, вызывающие привыкание, не заменят природный целебный бальзам.

She’s hardly at home anymore, so I hired a substitute daughter.

Она теперь редко бывает дома, поэтому я нанял запасную дочь.

I’m actually just here on official substitute drama teacher business.

Вообще — то я здесь исключительно как заместитель педагога по актерскому мастерству.

Perhaps instead of a regular bridge I could substitute it with a dramatic monologue spoken against a musical background.

Может вместо обычного проигрыша я мог бы подставить драматический монолог поверх музыки.

I’d just like your guarantee that a substitute would replace our need for a human supply, Sir.

Я хочу от вас гарантий, что заменитель полностью вытеснит человеческий материал.

Even knights and mounted men-at-arms were frequently forced to substitute boiled leather for the bits of plate armor used to reinforce their mail.

Даже рыцари и конные латники порой были вынуждены заменять часть лат кожаными доспехами.

Food was no substitute for sleep and dreams, but it helped keep Urza looking mortal.

Пища не заменяла сон, но помогала Урзе сохранять человеческую внешность.

And I believe I’m compared to a substitute teacher.

Хочется верить, что меня сравнивают с учителем на подмене.

She grew up in the area and worked at the local elementary school as a substitute teacher.

Она выросла в провинции и работала в местной начальной школе, временно замещала одного из учителей.

I’m your substitute teacher. Ms. Benthem received a last-minute opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid teaching seminar in Maui.

Я заменяю вашего учителя, так как Мисс Бентам внезапно уехала на оплаченный семинар в Мауи.

I just hope you don’t substitute taste with a price tag.

Но надеюсь, что ты не превратишь первое свидание в рассказ о ценниках.

His new daddy and his substitute daddy are in a tug-of-war for his heart.

Его новый папа и его папа — заместитель перетягивают канат в его сердце.

Both ballistics reports confirm that he’s using some kind of ammunition with a lead substitute .

Оба отчёта по баллистике подтвердили то, что он использует какие — то патроны с заменителем свинца.

The PHHS cheer bylaws do allow for an alternate substitute in case of injury, failing grades, or polio.

Устав группы поддержки действительно позволяет использовать замену в случае травмы, плохих оценок или полиомиелита.

Very simply put, there is no substitute for the United Nations in managing in a coherent manner the problems to which I have referred.

Если говорить совсем просто, в деле последовательного решения проблем, о которых я говорил, для Организации Объединенных Наций никакой альтернативы не существует.

These institutions offer various forms of guidance and pedagogical assistance to natural parents or persons who are candidates to become substitute parents.

Эти учреждения предоставляют различные виды консультативной и педагогической помощи родным родителям или лицам, которые намереваются стать приемными родителями.

In this dangerous situation, crisis management should not be allowed to become a substitute for conflict resolution.

В такой опасной ситуации нельзя допустить, чтобы урегулирование кризиса подменяло урегулирование конфликта.

Wood can also be a substitute for non-renewable construction materials such as plastics, steel or concrete.

Древесина также может являться заменителем невозобновляемых строительных материалов, таких как пластики, сталь или бетон.

Impressive specifications and curves are no substitute for a listening test and a comparative demonstration using music and speech material is strongly recommended.

Впечатляющие спецификации и кривые не заменить тестом прослушивания и сравнительной демонстрацией с использованием настятельно рекомендуемого музыкального и речевого материала.

Nuclear energy was currently the only energy source capable of being a substitute for organic fuel.

По мнению оратора, ядерная энергетика является в настоящее время единственной альтернативой крупномасштабной энергетике на органическом топливе.

A last remark: affirmative action programmes do not substitute for anti-poverty programmes.

И последнее замечание: программы борьбы с бедностью не являются заменой программ позитивных действий.

First, there is no substitute for timely and coordinated action when the single currency is under pressure.

Первый заключается в том, что ничто не может заменить своевременные и скоординированные действия, когда единая валюта находится под давлением.

The court is made up of a president, one or two vice-presidents, one or more judges, assistant judges and substitute judges.

В его состав входят председатель, один или два заместителя председателя, один или несколько судей, помощники судей и заместители судей.

However, these partnerships are not a substitute for what Governments themselves must do.

В то же время эти партнерские отношения не подменяют необходимости выполнения правительствами своих обязательств.

We hope that you would support the proposed action plan, which is not a substitute for an overall settlement but aims at paving the way for it by laying the ground.

Мы надеемся, что Вы поддержите предлагаемый план действий, который не подменяет всестороннее урегулирование, а направлен на то, чтобы подготовить почву для его достижения.

Presently the average of price indices for different repair items is used as a substitute for the price index of imputed rents.

В настоящее время вместо ценового индекса условной арендной платы используется среднее значение ценовых индексов различных элементов ремонтных работ.

Lip service to the principles of international law is no substitute for real action.

Заверения в соблюдении принципов международного права не могут заменить реальные действия.

They have increased several times in this period in a move to substitute user payments for subsidies.

В течение этого периода она возросла в несколько раз с целью замены субсидий платежами пользователей.

In the case of perpetrators, such assistance was offered as a supplement to punishment, not as a substitute .

Насильникам такая помощь оказывается в качестве дополнения к наказанию, но не является его заменой.

If you beat on the right cheek substitute for impact and the left cheek.

Если вас бьют по правой щеке, то подставьте для удара и левую щеку.

The primary biofuels currently produced are ethanol, as a substitute for gasoline, and plant oil products that can substitute for diesel fuel.

В настоящее время производятся такие основные виды биотоплива, как этанол, заменяющий бензин, и вещества на основе растительных масел, способные заменить дизельное топливо.

It is estimated that at present all justified applications of recruits for transfer to substitute service are being approved.

Предполагается, что в настоящее время все обоснованные заявления призывников об альтернативной службе рассматриваются положительно.

When January passed without the delivery, the buyer entered into two substitute purchases with other sellers at a higher price.

После того как в январе ничего не было поставлено, покупатель заключил две другие сделки с другими продавцами по более высокой цене.

He argued that since all substitute judges contribute to unemployment benefit insurance, he himself should be able to benefit from its coverage.

Он утверждал, что, поскольку все заместители судей выплачивают взносы в систему страхования по безработице, он также имеет право на получение соответствующего пособия.

It remains the case, however, that an indicator cannot encompass everything, and is not a substitute for qualitative and quantitative research.

Показатель грубого насилия в отношении женщин не предполагает учета каждого инцидента, что может вызывать определенную озабоченность в этом плане.

These residues are solid or in the form of a slurry and can be further processed and used as a substitute for natural gypsum in plasterboard manufacture.

Эти остатки бывают твердыми или в виде шлама и могут дополнительно обрабатываться или использоваться в качестве заменителя природного гипса при производстве гипсокартона.

In Gaza, Palestinians were reportedly using potatoes as a partial flour substitute because Israeli restrictions on the imports of flour had made prices soar.

В секторе Газа, согласно сообщениям, палестинцы использовали картофель в качестве частичного заменителя муки в связи с тем, что ограничения на поставки муки, введенные Израилем, привели к резкому повышению цен на нее.

However, improved proliferation resistance is not a substitute for robust multilateral verification.

В то же время следует отметить, что повышение такой устойчивости не подменяет собой строгую многостороннюю проверку.

Fermented milk was not used as a substitute for mother’s milk.

Кислое молоко не использовалось в качестве замены грудному молоку.

He had also observed that in many countries the criminal justice system functioned as an ill-suited substitute for a lacking or dysfunctional welfare system.

Он отметил также, что во многих странах система уголовного правосудия функционирует как плохо подходящая замена для отсутствующей или нефункционирующей системы социального обеспечения.

It was emphasized that innovative sources of finance complemented official aid; they were not a substitute .

Особо отмечалось, что нетрадиционные источники финансирования дополняют официальную помощь, но не подменяют ее.

Imperfect as it is, there is no substitute for the United Nations.

Какой бы несовершенной она ни была, иной альтернативы Организации Объединенных Наций нет.

Coca leaf production could not be halted by force; substitute crops should be planted instead.

Производство кокаинового листа нельзя остановить силой; вместо него следует выращивать другие культуры.

In many jurisdictions solitary confinement is also used as a substitute for proper medical or psychiatric care for mentally disordered individuals.

Во многих странах содержание в одиночной камере также применяется в качестве замены надлежащего медицинского или психиатрического лечения лиц с психическим расстройством.

Individual action by States to combat terrorism was no substitute for collective action and commitment.

Самостоятельные действия государств, направленные на борьбу с терроризмом, не могут заменить коллективных действий и всеобщей приверженности этой борьбе.

The delegation of Canada indicated that it would propose a substitute for Mr. Alain Chung, who would be unavailable for the April meeting of the drafting group.

Делегация Канады намеревается заменить г — на Алена Чанга, который не сможет участвовать в апрельском совещании Редакционной группы.

Zinc borate is often combined with aluminum trihydroxide and used to substitute for antimony trioxide.

В докладе Германии отмечаются тератогенность бора и то, что при высокой концентрации он вызывает раздражение глаз, органов дыхания и кожи.

Use of any additional or substitute wheel fixing components, for example, longer wheel bolts or studs with alloy wheels;.

использование любых дополнительных или заменяющих элементов крепления колеса, например более длинных болтов или гаек для колес из легких сплавов;.

Surgical steel jewelry is very interesting as a substitute for silver as the material cost is much lower and it will not tarnish like silver would.

Мы начинали с пирсинг украшений, а на сегодняшний день предлагаем вашему вниманию кольца, браслеты и кулоны.

Other forms: substitutions

The noun substitution refers to the act of replacing one thing with another. Your football coach might make a substitution by sending you onto the field to take over for a player who is tired or injured.

Substitution comes from the Middle French word of the same spelling, meaning «a putting in place of another.» You might notice that substitution contains the root word substitute, and that’s a good way to remember the meaning of the word. In school, a substitute is a temporary teacher who fills in when your regular teacher is out — in other words, a substitution has been made until your teacher returns.

Definitions of substitution

  1. noun

    the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another: «he sent Smith in for Jones but the substitution came too late to help»

    synonyms:

    commutation, exchange

    see moresee less

    types:

    show 7 types…
    hide 7 types…
    replacement, replacing

    the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another

    subrogation

    (law) the act of substituting of one creditor for another

    ablactation, weaning

    the act of substituting other food for the mother’s milk in the diet of a child or young mammal

    novation

    (law) the replacement of one obligation by another by mutual agreement of both parties; usually the replacement of one of the original parties to a contract with the consent of the remaining party

    pitching change

    replacing a pitcher in baseball

    supersedure, supersession

    act of replacing one person or thing by another especially one held to be superior

    displacement, supplanting

    act of taking the place of another especially using underhanded tactics

    type of:

    change

    the action of changing something

  2. noun

    an event in which one thing is substituted for another

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘substitution’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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What Is a Substitute?

A substitute, or substitutable good, in economics and consumer theory refers to a product or service that consumers see as essentially the same or similar-enough to another product. Put simply, a substitute is a good that can be used in place of another.

Substitutes play an important part in the marketplace and are considered a benefit for consumers. They provide more choices for consumers, who are then better able to satisfy their needs. Bills of materials often include alternate parts that can replace the standard part if it’s destroyed.

Key Takeaways

  • A substitute is a product or service that can be easily replaced with another by consumers.
  • In economics, products are often substitutes if the demand for one product increases when the price of the other goes up.
  • Substitutes provide choices and alternatives for consumers while creating competition and lower prices in the marketplace.

What are Substitute Goods?

Understanding Substitutes

When consumers make buying decisions, substitutes provide them with alternatives. Substitutes occur when there are at least two products that can be used for the same purpose, such as an iPhone vs. an Android phone. For a product to be a substitute for another, it must share a particular relationship with that good. Those relationships can be close, like one brand of coffee with another, or somewhat further apart, such as coffee and tea.

Giving consumers more choice helps generate competition in the market and lower prices as a result. While that may be good for consumers, it may have the opposite effect on companies’ bottom line. Alternative products can cut into companies’ profitability, as consumers may end up choosing one more over another or see market share diluted.

When you examine the relationship between the demand schedules of substitute products, if the price of a product goes up the demand for a substitute will tend to increase. This is because people will prefer to lower-cost substitute to the higher cost one. If, for example, the price of coffee increases, the demand for tea may also increase as consumers switch from coffee to tea to maintain their budgets.

Conversely, when a good’s price decreases, the demand for its substitute may also decrease. In formal economic language, X and Y are substitutes if demand for X increases when the price of Y increases, or if there is positive cross elasticity of demand.

The availability of substitutes are one of Porter’s 5 Forces, the others being competition, new entrants into the industry, the power of suppliers, and the power of customers.

Examples of Substitute Goods

Substitute goods are all around us. As mentioned above, they are generally used for the same purpose or are able to satisfy similar needs for consumers.

Here are just a few examples of substitute goods:

  • Currency: a dollar bill for 4 quarters (also known as fungibility)
  • Coke vs. Pepsi
  • Premium vs. regular gasoline
  • Butter and margarine
  • Tea and coffee
  • Apples and oranges
  • Riding a bike versus driving a car
  • E-books and regular books

There is one thing to keep in mind when it comes to substitutes: the degree to which a good is a substitute for another can, and often will, differ.

Perfect vs. Less Perfect Substitutes

Classifying a product or service as a substitute is not always straightforward. There are different degrees to which products or services can be defined as substitutes. A substitute can be perfect or imperfect depending on whether the substitute completely or partially satisfies the consumer.

A perfect substitute can be used in exactly the same way as the good or service it replaces. This is where the utility of the product or service is pretty much identical. For example, a one-dollar bill is a perfect substitute for another dollar bill. And butter from two different producers are also considered perfect substitutes; the producer may be different, but their purpose and usage are the same.

A bike and a car are far from perfect substitutes, but they are similar enough for people to use them to get from point A to point B. There is also some measurable relationship in the demand schedule.

Although an imperfect substitute may be replaceable, it may have a degree of difference that can be easily perceived by consumers. So some consumers may choose to stick with one product over the other. Consider Coke versus Pepsi. A consumer may choose Coke over Pepsi—perhaps because of taste—even if the price of Coke goes up. If a consumer perceives a difference between soda brands, she may see Pepsi as an imperfect substitute for Coke, even if economists consider them perfect substitutes.

Less perfect substitutes are sometimes classified as gross substitutes or net substitutes by factoring in utility. A gross substitute is one in which demand for X increases when the price of Y increases. Net substitutes are those in which demand for X increases when the price of Y increases and the utility derived from the substitute remains constant.

Substitute Goods in Perfect Competition and Monopolistic Competition

In cases of perfect competition, perfect substitutes are sometimes conceived as nearly indistinguishable goods being sold by different firms. For example, gasoline from a gas station on one corner may be virtually indistinguishable from gasoline sold by another gas station on the opposite corner. An increase in the price at one station will result in more people choosing the cheaper option.

Monopolistic competition presents an interesting case that present complications with the concept of substitutes. In monopolistic competition, companies are not price-takers, meaning demand is not highly sensitive to price. A common example is a difference between the store brand and name-branded medicine at your local pharmacy. The products themselves are nearly indistinguishable chemically, but they are not perfect substitutes due to the utility consumers may get—or believe they get—from purchasing a brand name over a generic drug believing it to be more reputable or of higher quality.

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