arbitrary
Pronunciation: /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/
The English word “arbitrary” has 6 meanings listed here.
adjective
- Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
- Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.
- Any, out of all that are possible.
- Determined by independent arbiter.
- Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.
noun
- Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
Etymology
From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).
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More English words
- arbitrarious
- arbitrariously
- arbitrariousness
- arbitrarity
- arbitrary and capricious
- arbitrary law
- arbitrary unit
- arbitrary-precision arithmetic
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.