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arbitrary
[ ahr-bi-trer-ee ]
/ ĖÉr bÉŖĖtrÉr i /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion: an arbitrary decision.
decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.
having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical: an arbitrary government.
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.
Mathematics. undetermined; not assigned a specific value: an arbitrary constant.
noun, plural arĀ·biĀ·trarĀ·ies.
arbitraries, Printing. (in Britain) peculiar (def. 9).
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Origin of arbitrary
OTHER WORDS FROM arbitrary
arĀ·biĀ·trarĀ·iĀ·ly [ahr-bi-trair-uh-lee] /ĖÉr bÉŖĖtrÉÉr É li/ adverbarĀ·biĀ·trarĀ·iĀ·ness, nounnonĀ·arĀ·biĀ·trarĀ·y, adjectiveunĀ·arĀ·biĀ·trarĀ·y, adjectiveWords nearby arbitrary
arbitrager, arbitral, arbitrament, arbitrarily, arbitrariness, arbitrary, arbitrate, arbitration, arbitration bar, arbitrator, arbitrer
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use arbitrary in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for arbitrary
arbitrary
/ (ĖÉĖbÉŖtrÉrÉŖ) /
adjective
founded on or subject to personal whims, prejudices, etc; capricious
having only relative application or relevance; not absolute
(of a government, ruler, etc) despotic or dictatorial
maths not representing any specific valuean arbitrary constant
law (esp of a penalty or punishment) not laid down by statute; within the court's discretion
Derived forms of arbitrary
arbitrarily, adverbarbitrariness, nounWord Origin for arbitrary
C15: from Latin arbitrÄrius arranged through arbitration, uncertain
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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