random

[ ran-duhm ]

adjective

1. proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern:

   the random selection of numbers.

   Synonyms: fortuitous, chance, haphazard

2. Statistics. of or characterizing a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.
3. Building Trades.
   1. (of building materials) lacking uniformity of dimensions:

      random shingles.

   2. (of ashlar) laid without continuous courses.
   3. constructed or applied without regularity:

      random bond.

4. Slang.
   1. unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place:

      A couple of random guys showed up at the party.

   2. odd or unpredictable, often in an amusing way:

      my totally random life.

noun

1. something that is random, or a random state or condition:

   different statistical methods used to estimate randoms.

2. Slang.
   1. a person or thing that is unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place.
   2. a person or thing that is odd or unpredictable.
3. Chiefly British. bank ³( def 7b ).

adverb

1. Building Trades. without uniformity:

   random-sized slates.

random

/ ˈrændəm /

adjective

1. lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazard

   a random selection

2. statistics
   1. having a value which cannot be determined but only described probabilistically

      a random variable

   2. chosen without regard to any characteristics of the individual members of the population so that each has an equal chance of being selected

      random sampling

3. informal.
   (of a person) unknown

   some random guy waiting for a bus

noun

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

random

/ răn′dəm /

1. Relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.
2. 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.

Derived Forms

• ˈrandomness, noun
• ˈrandomly, adverb

Other Words From

• ran·dom·ly adverb
• ran·dom·ness noun
• non·ran·dom adjective
• non·ran·dom·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of random¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of random¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing random

see at random .

Example Sentences

So when random researchers nudged them to establish new behaviors, they were already in a headspace conducive to change.

From Fortune

If information just seems sort of random, ask more questions.

From Science News For Students

Well, if your data didn’t come from random noise, the truth must still be out there.

From 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.

From Nautilus

Only a few variants will spread, perhaps due to random chance.

From Science News

Reprinted by arrangement with The Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company.

From The Daily Beast

But by Wednesday evening there was little in the way of organized protests or random unrest in the area.

From The Daily Beast

He did not shout “God is great,” but his random act served the purposes of ISIS almost as well.

From The Daily Beast

Random House is also covering the legal fees of an innocent man called Barry who was caught up in the storm.

From The Daily Beast

Random House agreed that all future editions of the book will state that “Barry” was a pseudonym.

From The Daily Beast

Firing a random volley, those that lived turned and fled, pursued by the scouts.

From Project Gutenberg

The blows stung, and Black Sheep struck back at random with all the power at his command.

From Project Gutenberg

At random, I select four names from the printed list, and the new jurors file into the box.

From Project Gutenberg

The spot where his random blow had struck still gleamed transparent jet.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accidental
• aimless
• arbitrary
• incidental
• indiscriminate
• irregular
• odd
• unplanned