arbitrate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to decide as arbitrator or arbiter; determine.
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to submit to arbitration; settle by arbitration.
to arbitrate a dispute.
verb (used without object)
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to act as arbitrator or arbiter; decide between opposing or contending parties or sides.
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to submit a matter to arbitration.
verb
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to settle or decide (a dispute); achieve a settlement between parties
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to submit to or settle by arbitration
Usage
What does arbitrate mean? To arbitrate is to act as an arbitrator—an independent, impartial third party that works to settle a dispute between two opposing sides, often by making a decision that they both agree to.This process is called arbitration. Arbitrate can also mean to engage in arbitration, as in If we can’t come to an agreement, we may need to arbitrate.For a process to be considered arbitration, it must involve an arbitrator, which can be a single person or a team of people.The terms arbitrate and arbitration are especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions. When the two sides can’t agree and negotiations are unproductive, they may agree or be ordered to arbitrate.An arbitration process in which the arbitrator’s decision must be accepted by both parties is sometimes called binding arbitration—meaning the arbitrator’s decision is final and legally binding.The word arbitrate can also be used in a more general way meaning "to determine or settle a dispute," similar to the word mediate. However, arbitrate often implies that the process is a formal one.Example: After weeks of negotiations stalled and resulted in an impasse, the two sides agreed to enter arbitration.
Other Word Forms
- arbitrable adjective
- arbitrative adjective
- arbitrator noun
- rearbitrate verb
- unarbitrated adjective
- unarbitrative adjective
- well-arbitrated adjective
Etymology
Origin of arbitrate
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin arbitrātus “decided, judged,” past participle of arbitrārī “to decide, judge,” from arbit(e)r arbiter
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.
Internet providers have been thrust into the unwelcome position of having to arbitrate disputes between copyright holders and alleged infringers.
It offers legal benefits, including the ability to arbitrate disputes abroad at independent tribunals.
He arbitrated salary disputes in baseball, of which he is a lifelong fan.
From Los Angeles Times
“If the NFL Constitution were to bind former employees, the Commissioner could essentially pick and choose which disputes to arbitrate,” the ruling stated.
From Los Angeles Times
The complexities mean courts and tribunals have frequently been called on to arbitrate.
From BBC
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.
