randomly

[ran-duhm-lee]

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of randomly¹

random ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

“My dad wasn’t into music at all, but he randomly happened to pick up an amazing selection of cassettes,” says Wiggs.

From Los Angeles Times

It has deployed 800 National Guard troops to patrol neighborhoods and established checkpoints to randomly stop and interrogate motorists, often over perceived violations of immigration law.

From Salon

Bats swooped overhead while "randomly pooping" on him and his camera.

From BBC

Whenever I just crash out, like randomly — and people get mad.

From Los Angeles Times

In the letter, the apparent chatbot pretending to be the first lady writes, “Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation’s rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center.”

From Salon

Related Words

• aimlessly 
• carelessly www.thesaurus.com
• casually