arbitrarily

[ ahr-bi-trair-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. based on the judgment or will of an individual:

   The Fourth Amendment protects my right to not be arbitrarily searched.

2. without an apparent reason or pattern; randomly; capriciously:

   There is no need to stop living life to its fullest simply because we have reached some arbitrarily set age for what broader society calls “retirement.”

Other Words From

• non·ar·bi·trar·i·ly adverb
• un·ar·bi·trar·i·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbitrarily¹

arbitrary ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Or is something else happening; is the press manifesting an unadmitted genuflection to raw power, exercised arbitrarily, out of calculated self-preservation?

From Salon

His decision to arbitrarily withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal was reckless.

From Salon

Imagine watching a television where an impolite houseguest holds the remote control and arbitrarily changes the channels.

From Salon

So, an unelected bunch of regulators can arbitrarily adopt new rules without weighing the cost to consumers?

From Los Angeles Times

But he recommended continuing to provide military assistance because he had “assessed that Israel will not arbitrarily deny, restrict, or otherwise impede U.S. provided or supported” shipments of food and medicine.

From Salon

Related Words

• forthwith
• promptly
• swiftly