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 arbitraries.

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 Word Forms

• 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

On Thursday, Rusch called the commission’s demands part of an “arbitrary permitting process,” and said the company had worked with Coastal Commission staff for months in attempt to address their concerns.

From Los Angeles Times

Bonta called the action “arbitrary and capricious” and therefore illegal under federal law.

From Los Angeles Times

The Trump administration has called the deadline "arbitrary - and impossible".

From BBC

But to transform the global trading system using an arbitrary formula, that throws up transparent absurdities, even without the penguins, is likely to encourage the other side to resist.

From BBC

I think what's happening now, in terms of arbitrary deportations and concentration camps in areas beyond our constitutional protections, is un-American.

From Salon

Related Words

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