random number

American

[ran-duhm nuhm-ber] / ˈræn dəm ˈnʌm bər /

noun

Statistics.

a number chosen by a random sampling, as from a table random number table or produced by a random number generator.

Etymology

Origin of random number

First recorded in 1925–30

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.

Her winning numbers were chosen via a combination of birthdays, birth years and a random number.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2024

The “drivers” were presented witha random number and had to count aloud backward by either ones or threes.

From Scientific American • Jul. 28, 2023

Participants were asked what percentage of African countries belonged to the United Nations, and their answers varied depending on a random number they were given before being asked the question.

From New York Times • Feb. 26, 2023

A random number generator is used to select a student from the alphabetical listing of all high school students in the fall semester.

From Textbooks • Mar. 27, 2020

Boys she didn’t actually like got a random number.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023