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View synonyms for random

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

“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


noun

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

random

/ răndəm /

  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.


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Derived Forms

  • ˈrandomness, noun
  • ˈrandomly, adverb
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Other Words From

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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