arbitrator

[ahr-bi-trey-ter]

noun

1. a person chosen to decide a dispute or settle differences, especially one formally empowered to examine the facts and decide the issue.

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrator¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English arbitratour, from Late Latin, from Latin arbitrātor; equivalent to arbitrate + -tor

Example Sentences

However, just before spring training the Dodgers added Gibson, who became available when he was declared a free agent by an arbitrator in a collusion case brought against MLB owners.

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The Faster Labor Contracts Act would require federal arbitrators to dictate private contracts if employers and unions can’t reach agreement within an arbitrary and unrealistic timeframe.

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Putting businesses into a two-year bind crafted by uninformed arbitrators risks destroying companies and leaving employees jobless.

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Since retiring from the bench, she has continued to work as an arbitrator and is a partner at a local injury law firm.

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This monitor would be copied on reports from either side about settlement violations that would eventually lead to “non-binding, advisory only” decisions by a separate arbitrator.

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Related Words

• arbiter 
• go-between 
• judge 
• mediator 
• referee 
• umpire 

When To Use

What is an arbitrator?

An arbitrator is 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. For a process to be considered arbitration, it must involve an arbitrator, which can be a single person or a team of people. To act as an arbitrator is to arbitrate. Arbitrate can also mean to try to settle a dispute through arbitration, as in If we can’t come to an agreement, we may need to arbitrate.The terms arbitrator 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 seek to pursue arbitration by bringing in an arbitrator.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.Example: After weeks of negotiations stalled and resulted in an impasse, the two sides agreed to bring in an arbitrator.