diff --git a/packages/inquirer/inquirer.test.ts b/packages/inquirer/inquirer.test.ts
index d6684b9ee..d01bfe3de 100644
--- a/packages/inquirer/inquirer.test.ts
+++ b/packages/inquirer/inquirer.test.ts
@@ -519,6 +519,35 @@ describe('inquirer.prompt(...)', () => {
     expect(answers).toEqual({ name1: 'bar', name: undefined });
   });
 
+  it('should use `default` when passed along `choices`', async () => {
+    class FakeSelect {
+      constructor(question: QuestionMap['stubSelect']) {
+        expect(question.choices).toEqual([
+          { name: 'A', value: 'A', checked: false },
+          { name: 'B', value: 'B', checked: true },
+        ]);
+      }
+
+      run() {
+        return Promise.resolve();
+      }
+
+      close() {}
+    }
+    inquirer.registerPrompt('stubSelect', FakeSelect);
+
+    const answers = await inquirer.prompt([
+      {
+        type: 'stubSelect',
+        name: 'name',
+        message: 'message',
+        choices: ['A', 'B'],
+        default: ['B'],
+      },
+    ]);
+    expect(answers).toEqual({ name: undefined });
+  });
+
   it('should expose the Reactive interface', async () => {
     const spy = vi.fn();
 
diff --git a/packages/inquirer/src/types.ts b/packages/inquirer/src/types.ts
index 61a45887b..7d92ce942 100644
--- a/packages/inquirer/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/inquirer/src/types.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,11 @@ type QuestionWithGetters<
 >;
 
 export type UnnamedDistinctQuestion<A extends Answers = object> =
-  | QuestionWithGetters<'checkbox', Parameters<typeof checkbox>[0], A>
+  | QuestionWithGetters<
+      'checkbox',
+      Parameters<typeof checkbox>[0] & { default: unknown[] },
+      A
+    >
   | QuestionWithGetters<'confirm', Parameters<typeof confirm>[0], A>
   | QuestionWithGetters<'editor', Parameters<typeof editor>[0], A>
   | QuestionWithGetters<'expand', Parameters<typeof expand>[0], A>
diff --git a/packages/inquirer/src/ui/prompt.ts b/packages/inquirer/src/ui/prompt.ts
index 53ff33751..3a813e871 100644
--- a/packages/inquirer/src/ui/prompt.ts
+++ b/packages/inquirer/src/ui/prompt.ts
@@ -266,17 +266,28 @@ export default class PromptsRunner<A extends Answers> {
     let choices;
     if (Array.isArray(resolvedChoices)) {
       choices = resolvedChoices.map((choice: unknown) => {
-        if (typeof choice === 'string' || typeof choice === 'number') {
-          return { name: choice, value: choice };
-        } else if (
-          typeof choice === 'object' &&
-          choice != null &&
-          !('value' in choice) &&
-          'name' in choice
-        ) {
-          return { ...choice, value: choice.name };
+        const choiceObj =
+          typeof choice !== 'object' || choice == null
+            ? { name: choice, value: choice }
+            : {
+                ...choice,
+                value:
+                  'value' in choice
+                    ? choice.value
+                    : 'name' in choice
+                      ? choice.name
+                      : undefined,
+              };
+
+        if ('value' in choiceObj && Array.isArray(defaultValue)) {
+          // Add checked to question for backward compatibility. default was supported as alternative of per choice checked.
+          return {
+            checked: defaultValue.includes(choiceObj.value),
+            ...choiceObj,
+          };
         }
-        return choice;
+
+        return choiceObj;
       });
     }