randomly

[ ran-duhm-lee ]

adverb

1. without definite aim, reason, sense, or pattern:

   This poem just seems like a bunch of words randomly put together.

   Freckles generally appear randomly on the face and upper shoulders.

2. Statistics. in a way that gives each item in a set the equal probability of being chosen:

   A survey of 309 women aged 15 to 49 was conducted in nine randomly selected villages.

Other Words From

• non·ran·dom·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of randomly¹

random ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The study involved 32 individuals with TBI, randomly assigned to either a sleep or wake group following training on a motor task.

From Science Daily

Fans were "randomly assigned a place in a queue" rather than having to refresh the holding page when the tickets went live.

From BBC

That way, when the ticket sale starts, you will be randomly assigned a place in the queue.

From BBC

Last month, we travelled to a shopping mall in Shanghai where a man had randomly stabbed strangers to death.

From BBC

Everyone who underwent a chest X-ray received a badge and randomly selected people spotted wearing badges received small gifts such as chocolates, chickens, and cigarettes.

From BBC

Related Words

• haphazard
• headlong
• jumbled