arbiter
Americannoun
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a person empowered to decide matters at issue; judge; umpire.
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a person who has the sole or absolute power of judging or determining.
noun
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a person empowered to judge in a dispute; referee; arbitrator
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a person having complete control of something
Other Word Forms
- superarbiter noun
Etymology
Origin of arbiter
1350–1400; Middle English arbitour, arbitre < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin arbiter
Compare meaning
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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.
After retiring in 2013, he joined a private Washington law practice where he handled official arbiter missions.
From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026
As the sole arbiter of the fate of a nation that is crucial to its region and to world oil markets, Mr. Trump is the world’s most visible and powerful leader.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026
It raises a profound question: can the state, especially when it is implicated in killing, be trusted as the arbiter of what should remain secret?
From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026
So the key distinction is that there’s a neutral arbiter.
From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026
In a way, however, he was the final arbiter.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
