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

The statement came after a UK parliamentary hearing on arbitrary detention and hostage affairs.

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The arbitrary nature of this career, how the impostor syndrome was enormous in him.

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Because New York’s rent restrictions mostly apply to buildings constructed before 1974, the rent stabilization is also arbitrary and violates equal protection and due process rights, says the suit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The FBI Agents Association, which represents most FBI agents, said that Patel had “launched a campaign of erratic and arbitrary retribution.”

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The FDA’s arbitrary and shifting standards also create uncertainty for drug development, which has been compounded by the agency’s recent chaos and dysfunction.

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Related Words

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