arbitrary

[ ahr-bi-trer-ee ]

adjective

1. subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion:

   an arbitrary decision.

2. decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.
3. having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical:

   an arbitrary government.

4. based on whim or personal preference, without reason or pattern; random:

   This is an unusual encyclopedia, arranged by topics in a more or less arbitrary order.

5. Mathematics. undetermined; not assigned a specific value:

   an arbitrary constant.

noun

, plural ar·bi·trar·ies.

1. arbitraries, Printing. (in Britain) peculiar ( def 9 ).

arbitrary

/ ˈɑːbɪtrərɪ /

adjective

1. founded on or subject to personal whims, prejudices, etc; capricious
2. having only relative application or relevance; not absolute
3. (of a government, ruler, etc) despotic or dictatorial
4. maths not representing any specific value

   an arbitrary constant

5. law (esp of a penalty or punishment) not laid down by statute; within the court's discretion

Derived Forms

• ˈarbitrarily, adverb
• ˈarbitrariness, noun

Other Words From

• ar·bi·trar·i·ly [ahr-bi-, trair, -, uh, -lee] adverb
• ar·bi·trar·i·ness noun
• non·ar·bi·trar·y adjective
• un·ar·bi·trar·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrary¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin arbitrārius “uncertain” (i.e., depending on an arbiter's decision); arbiter, -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrary¹

C15: from Latin arbitrārius arranged through arbitration, uncertain

Example Sentences

“But that’s only if you’re thinking about existing in a flawed society. You can’t build up your psyche and your understanding of yourself based off of something that actually is arbitrary.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Equatorial Guinean administration has faced criticism for its human rights record, including arbitrary killings and torture, according to a US government report.

From BBC

A cosmological constant is a famous part of Einstein's General Relativity theory, and refers to an arbitrary constant that is present in all related field equations.

From Salon

"Such highhanded and arbitrary actions have no place in a constitutional democracy," it said, adding that officials "who took the law in their hands" should be held accountable.

From BBC

It points to their experience with artificial hierarchies, arbitrary violations of natural rights and freedoms, and abuses of political power by a tyrannical governing authority.

From Salon

Related Words

• capricious
• discretionary
• erratic
• frivolous
• inconsistent
• irrational
• irresponsible
• random
• subjective
• unreasonable
• willful