randomly

American  

[ran-duhm-lee] / ˈræn dəm li /

adverb

1. without definite aim, reason, sense, or pattern.

   This poem just seems like a bunch of words randomly put together.

   Freckles generally appear randomly on the face and upper shoulders.

2. Statistics. in a way that gives each item in a set the equal probability of being chosen.

   A survey of 309 women aged 15 to 49 was conducted in nine randomly selected villages.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonrandomly adverb

Etymology

Origin of randomly

random ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Not everyone understood that Mary’s outflung left arm isn’t some randomly flailing appendage but a gesture pregnant with meaning—multiple ones.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Calling people you don’t know on the phone in 2026 is as bad as randomly knocking on a friend’s door unannounced in 1995,” he wrote in an email.

From The Wall Street Journal

PAN Europe, a coalition of NGOs campaigning against pesticide use, had around 60 apples randomly purchased in 13 European countries -- including France, Spain, Italy and Poland -- analysed for chemical residues.

From Barron's

Lawrence: Mike already made the point here, just randomly on this interview — it doesn’t matter if you empathize and you’re around it.

From Los Angeles Times

She must think something’s wrong with me, because this is the second time I’ve randomly burst into tears in front of her.

From Literature

Related Words

• aimlessly
• carelessly
• casually