randomize

American  

[ran-duh-mahyz] / ˈræn dəˌmaɪz /

especially British, randomise

verb (used with object)

randomizes, present (3rd person singular) randomized, past participle, past randomizing present participle

1. to order or select in a random manner, as in a sample or experiment, especially in order to reduce bias and interference caused by irrelevant variables; make random.

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randomize British  

/ ˈrændəˌmaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to set up (a selection process, sample, etc) in a deliberately random way in order to enhance the statistical validity of any results obtained

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• randomization
  noun
• randomizer
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• randomizing
  present
• randomized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• randomize
  simple
• randomizes
  simple
• have randomized
  perfect
• has randomized
  perfect
• am randomizing
  progressive
• are randomizing
  progressive
• is randomizing
  progressive
• have been randomizing
  perfect progressive
• has been randomizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• randomized
  simple
• had randomized
  perfect
• was randomizing
  progressive
• were randomizing
  progressive
• had been randomizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will randomize
  simple
• will have randomized
  perfect
• will be randomizing
  progressive
• will have been randomizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of randomize

First recorded in 1925–30; random + -ize

Explanation

To randomize is to arrange something in an irregular or haphazard order. If your math teacher randomizes the questions on a quiz, each student will get a different set of problems to solve, in a different order. If you disorder any group so that it is random, and you randomize it. The way to randomize the cards in a deck is to shuffle it well; each card in the deck is in its place by pure chance. And if you want to randomize your book collection, just put the books on the shelf anywhere, rather than in alphabetical order or grouped by subject.

Example Sentences

Now, we’ll randomize the kicker’s run-up to the ball using different body language.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

This study did not randomize participants, and people knew which group they had been placed in.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2024

In a similar effort, Bowers will randomize 24 patients to externally applied NIR or sham light and watch for behavioral and motor benefits.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 17, 2020

They could also randomize trades, testing out different players in different circumstances.

From Slate • May 2, 2017

You might be able to take one single bit of data out that way, but to jerk out a whole body of knowledge like this would completely randomize his circuits.

From Unwise Child by Garrett, Randall