arbitrary

[ahr-bi-trer-ee]

adjective

1. subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion.

   an arbitrary decision.

2. decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.

3. having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical.

   an arbitrary government.

4. based on whim or personal preference, without reason or pattern; random.

   This is an unusual encyclopedia, arranged by topics in a more or less arbitrary order.

5. Mathematics.,  undetermined; not assigned a specific value.

   an arbitrary constant.

noun

plural

arbitraries 

1. Printing.,  arbitraries, (in Britain) peculiar.

arbitrary

/ ˈɑːbɪtrərɪ /

adjective

1. founded on or subject to personal whims, prejudices, etc; capricious

2. having only relative application or relevance; not absolute

3. (of a government, ruler, etc) despotic or dictatorial

4. maths not representing any specific value

   an arbitrary constant

5. law (esp of a penalty or punishment) not laid down by statute; within the court's discretion

Other Word Forms

• arbitrarily adverb
• arbitrariness noun
• nonarbitrary adjective
• unarbitrary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrary¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin arbitrārius “uncertain” (i.e., depending on an arbiter's decision); arbiter, -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrary¹

C15: from Latin arbitrārius arranged through arbitration, uncertain

Example Sentences

They say it is an arbitrary calculation and accuse the scientific committee of endangering the export of feta.

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It took two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet and put them centre stage, baffled and bewildered by the seemingly arbitrary events swirling around them.

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There followed a statement by U.S. bishops condemning what they called the vilification and arbitrary treatment of migrants.

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But the plan would require Ukraine to cap its armed forces at an arbitrary level that wouldn’t suffice to deter or resist future aggression.

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The deal, she said, likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act’s prohibition on government agencies from acting in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner, and didn’t comply with requirements in the Internal Revenue Code.

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Related Words

• capricious 
• discretionary 
• erratic 
• frivolous 
• inconsistent 
• irrational 
• irresponsible 
• random 
• subjective 
• unreasonable 
• willful