Synonyms

arbitrate

American

[ahr-bi-trayt] / ˈɑr bɪˌtreɪt /

verb (used with object)

to decide as arbitrator or arbiter; determine.
to submit to arbitration; settle by arbitration.

to arbitrate a dispute.

verb (used without object)

to act as arbitrator or arbiter; decide between opposing or contending parties or sides.
to submit a matter to arbitration.

arbitrate British

/ ˈɑːbɪˌtreɪt /

verb

to settle or decide (a dispute); achieve a settlement between parties
to submit to or settle by arbitration

"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

Usage

What does arbitrate mean? To arbitrate is to act as an arbitrator—an independent, impartial third party that works to settle a dispute between two opposing sides, often by making a decision that they both agree to. This process is called arbitration. Arbitrate can also mean to engage in arbitration, as in If we can’t come to an agreement, we may need to arbitrate. For a process to be considered arbitration, it must involve an arbitrator, which can be a single person or a team of people. The terms arbitrate and arbitration are especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions. When the two sides can’t agree and negotiations are unproductive, they may agree or be ordered to arbitrate. An arbitration process in which the arbitrator’s decision must be accepted by both parties is sometimes called binding arbitration—meaning the arbitrator’s decision is final and legally binding. The word arbitrate can also be used in a more general way meaning "to determine or settle a dispute," similar to the word mediate. However, arbitrate often implies that the process is a formal one. Example: After weeks of negotiations stalled and resulted in an impasse, the two sides agreed to enter arbitration.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of arbitrate

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin arbitrātus “decided, judged,” past participle of arbitrārī “to decide, judge,” from arbit(e)r arbiter

Explanation

If your two best friends are fighting over the last piece of gum in the pack, you might arbitrate by telling them to split the last piece. Arbitrate is when a neutral third party helps end a conflict. Arbitrate derives from the Latin arbiter "judge." (An arbiter of taste is a good judge of taste.) When you arbitrate, you are doing what a judge does in a court of law. In the US, to avoid litigation, many choose non-binding arbitration—where a neutral third party suggests a settlement.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

arbitrate arbitrates arbitrated arbitrating

The data on which image recognition and generative models are based rely on statistics and probability to arbitrate the truth.

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

It offers legal benefits, including the ability to arbitrate disputes abroad at independent tribunals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025

It's hard to say, and I will leave it to more influential jungle heads, and the infinitely wise question setters on University Challenge, to arbitrate.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2024

The new law will take effect when it’s published in the country’s official bulletin, at which time courts will no longer arbitrate what journalists can write.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 29, 2023

Beloved had sat down with her and Redemption during their first big fight, when they were thirteen, to arbitrate.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

She arbitrates among the parties, first for outright dismissal and then for a more reasonable, so to speak, ransom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

He arbitrates disputes, much like any TV judge, but his show lacks the self-serious demeanor of other shows that try to replicate a real-life courtroom, she said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2022

Instead, they’re pushing for a complete overhaul of the system by which the university arbitrates sexual harassment claims.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2017

McDonald’s said the suit was being filed with the administrative court, which arbitrates in governance disputes in Italy.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 7, 2016

It bothered her; she didn't know whether it was impudence or admiration; but when a woman arbitrates on a case she is interested in, she always gives an award in her own favour.

From Nature and Human Nature by Thomas Chandler Haliburton

And while she could still lose her team gold once the case is arbitrated later — and any other medal she wins — Valieva for now is cleared to pursue her Olympic dream.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2022

In the most generous interpretation, it was about establishing a shared public space in which facts could be arbitrated and knowing that you could also be wrong.

From New York Times ● Oct. 10, 2021

Apart from stating that arbitrated payments to publishers must be made in lump sums, the new amendments also clarify that the panel must consider costs incurred by the platforms and by the news businesses.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 16, 2021

In addition to sports, Mr. Nicolau arbitrated disputes in aviation, communications and entertainment.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 10, 2020

I assumed Baeh was honoring the traditional Confucian structure of community, where in each village a prominent elder man heard the townspeople’s grievances and arbitrated and ruled.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Plaintiffs attorneys, legislators and patients say that Kaiser’s private and confidential process for arbitrating legal disputes over medical care still has key flaws that favor Kaiser over patients bringing malpractice cases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Finally, in 1872, with Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm arbitrating, the San Juan Islands were granted to the United States.

From Seattle Times ● May 16, 2024

But in 1815, with Pope Pius VII arbitrating restitution demands, the French, did give Italy a painting in exchange — not “The Wedding Feast,” but Charles Le Brun’s “The Feast in the House of Simon.”

From New York Times ● Oct. 7, 2022

Other kinds of transportation workers who typically do not cross state lines may use Monday's decision to argue that they also are exempt from arbitrating wage lawsuits.

From Reuters ● Jun. 6, 2022

The board is constituted as a temporary body for this purpose and not for the purpose of arbitrating the difficulties that existed.

From The Pullman Boycott A Complete History of the R.R. Strike by W. F. Burns

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023