random

[ ran-duhm ]

/ ˈræn dəm /

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See synonyms for: random / randomly / randomness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.

Statistics. of or characterizing a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.

Building Trades.

(of building materials) lacking uniformity of dimensions: random shingles.
(of ashlar) laid without continuous courses.
constructed or applied without regularity: random bond.

Slang.

unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place: A couple of random guys showed up at the party.
odd or unpredictable, often in an amusing way: my totally random life.

noun

something that is random, or a random state or condition: different statistical methods used to estimate randoms.

Slang.

a person or thing that is unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place.
a person or thing that is odd or unpredictable.

Chiefly British. bank³ (def. 7b).

adverb

Building Trades. without uniformity: random-sized slates.

OTHER WORDS FOR random

1 haphazard, chance, fortuitous.

See synonyms for random on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about random

at random, without definite aim, purpose, method, or adherence to a prior arrangement; in a haphazard way: Contestants were chosen at random from the studio audience.

Origin of random

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English raundon, random, from Old French randon, derivative of randir “to gallop,” from Germanic

OTHER WORDS FROM random

ran·dom·ly, adverbran·dom·ness, nounnon·ran·dom, adjectivenon·ran·dom·ness, noun

Words nearby random

Randers, R. & I., randlord, rando, Randolph, random, random access, random-access memory, random coil, random error, randomization

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use random in a sentence

So when random researchers nudged them to establish new behaviors, they were already in a headspace conducive to change.
How a vacation—or a pandemic—can help you adopt better habits now|matthewheimer|September 12, 2020|Fortune
If information just seems sort of random, ask more questions.
Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer|Kathiann Kowalski|September 9, 2020|Science News For Students
Well, if your data didn’t come from random noise, the truth must still be out there.
Can You Cover The Globe?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 28, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
There is also the tension of competition between parenting individuals like humans when it’s only a random 50 percent of their own genes that are going to get propagated.
How Life Could Continue to Evolve - Issue 88: Love & Sex|Caleb Scharf|August 12, 2020|Nautilus

Only a few variants will spread, perhaps due to random chance.
A reader asks about coronavirus mutations|Science News Staff|August 10, 2020|Science News
Reprinted by arrangement with The Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But by Wednesday evening there was little in the way of organized protests or random unrest in the area.
St. Louis Shooting Is the Anti-Ferguson|Justin Glawe|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He did not shout “God is great,” but his random act served the purposes of ISIS almost as well.
France’s Wave of Crazy-Terror Christmas Attacks|Christopher Dickey|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Random House is also covering the legal fees of an innocent man called Barry who was caught up in the storm.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Random House agreed that all future editions of the book will state that “Barry” was a pseudonym.
The Right's Rape Trolls vs. Lena Dunham|Emily Shire|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Firing a random volley, those that lived turned and fled, pursued by the scouts.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The blows stung, and Black Sheep struck back at random with all the power at his command.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
At random, I select four names from the printed list, and the new jurors file into the box.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
The spot where his random blow had struck still gleamed transparent jet.
The Dragon Painter|Mary McNeil Fenollosa
Now, you didn't nearly die at all, and death is not so trivial as we seem to think it, when we talk so at random.
In the Onyx Lobby|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for random

random

/ (ˈrændəm) /

adjective

lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazarda random selection

statistics

having a value which cannot be determined but only described probabilisticallya random variable
chosen without regard to any characteristics of the individual members of the population so that each has an equal chance of being selectedrandom sampling

informal (of a person) unknownsome random guy waiting for a bus

noun

at random in a purposeless fashion; not following any prearranged order

Derived forms of random

randomly, adverbrandomness, noun

Word Origin for random

C14: from Old French randon, from randir to gallop, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German rinnan to run

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for random

random

[ răn′dəm ]

Relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.

Relating to an event in which all outcomes are equally likely, as in the testing of a blood sample for the presence of a substance.

Other Idioms and Phrases with random

random

see at random.

random

OTHER WORDS FOR random

Idioms about random

Origin of random

OTHER WORDS FROM random

Words nearby random

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How to use random in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for random

Derived forms of random

Word Origin for random

Scientific definitions for random

Other Idioms and Phrases with random