arbitrary

CEFRC1

/ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Based on personal choice rather than a clear reason or rule.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Any, out of all that are possible.

Examples

  • My mother prefers the arbitrary selection of the lottery machines over my lucky numbers.

  • Our decision to go to Portugal was quite arbitrary.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.

  2. Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

  3. Determined by independent arbiter.

More examples

In context

  • The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary.

  • Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary.

  • The decision to use 18 years as the legal age of adulthood was arbitrary, as both age 17 and 19 were reasonable alternatives.

Quick test

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His blank decision to ban cell phones during lunch upset many students.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).