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arbiter

American  
[ahr-bi-ter] / ˈɑr bɪ tər /

noun

  1. a person empowered to decide matters at issue; judge; umpire.

  2. a person who has the sole or absolute power of judging or determining.


arbiter British  
/ ˈɑːbɪtə /

noun

  1. a person empowered to judge in a dispute; referee; arbitrator

  2. a person having complete control of something

"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

Other Word Forms

  • superarbiter noun

Etymology

Origin of arbiter

1350–1400; Middle English arbitour, arbitre < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin arbiter

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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.

These purges, analysts say, effectively have transformed the Central Military Commission from a decision-making body into a personal secretariat, cementing Xi as the sole arbiter of military power.

From The Wall Street Journal

Our ears are always the ultimate arbiters, and hundreds of millions still bend to the song’s unvarnished, pure pleasure even now.

From Salon

Over the last decade and a half, the critic’s role has evolved from that of an arbiter to a kind of prescriber.

From Salon

The bill protects individuals without dictating speech or turning platforms into grand arbiters of content.

From The Wall Street Journal

Today, it is grounded in the language of human rights, with institutions such as the United Nations serving as its arbiters.

From The Wall Street Journal