arbitrament
Americannoun
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the act of arbitrating; arbitration.
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the decision or sentence pronounced by an arbiter.
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the power of absolute and final decision.
noun
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the decision or award made by an arbitrator upon a disputed matter
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the power or authority to pronounce such a decision
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another word for arbitration
Usage
What does arbitrament mean? Arbitrament most generally refers to the power or authority to decide something with finality. This sense of the word is often used in phrases like arbitrament of war, arbitrament of force, and arbitrament of violence—meaning that force ultimately ends up deciding a winner after or in place of other courses of action. Arbitrament is also a less common word for arbitration—the process in which two parties in a dispute use an independent, impartial third party (called an arbitrator) to settle the dispute, often by making a decision that they both agree to. The term arbitration is especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions. This process can be called arbitrament, but it is not commonly used this way. Arbitrament can also refer to the final decision made by the arbitrator. Example: We must work toward a society in which the arbitrament of force is fully replaced with the arbitrament of the legal system.
Etymology
Origin of arbitrament
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin arbitrāmentum, equivalent to Latin arbitrā(rī) “to decide, judge” + -mentum noun suffix; replacing Middle English arbitrement, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin; see arbitrate, -ment
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.
Every possible means consistent with Divine law and human dignity must be employed ... to avoid the final arbitrament of nuclear warfare.
From Time Magazine Archive
Had he been a member of the Peace Congress, he could not have detested the arbitrament of arms more heartily.
From The Daltons, Volume I (of II) Or,Three Roads In Life by Lever, Charles James
Both parties recognized the necessity of deciding this question by the arbitrament of war.
From Japan by Murray, David
The almost universal disposition of the better class of the people was to accept the arbitrament which the sword had accorded them.
From Ku Klux Klan Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment by Lester, J. C.
The Fairfax committee framed resolutions, intimating that a persistence of the government in its measures of coercion would result of necessity only in a resort to the arbitrament of arms.
From History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia by Campbell, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
