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

Related Words

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