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arbitrary
[ ahr-bi-trer-ee ]
adjective
- subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion:
an arbitrary decision.
- decided by a judge or arbiter rather than by a law or statute.
- having unlimited power; uncontrolled or unrestricted by law; despotic; tyrannical:
an arbitrary government.
- 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.
- Mathematics. undetermined; not assigned a specific value:
an arbitrary constant.
noun
- arbitraries, Printing. (in Britain) peculiar ( def 9 ).
arbitrary
/ ˈɑːɪٰəɪ /
adjective
- founded on or subject to personal whims, prejudices, etc; capricious
- having only relative application or relevance; not absolute
- (of a government, ruler, etc) despotic or dictatorial
- maths not representing any specific value
an arbitrary constant
- law (esp of a penalty or punishment) not laid down by statute; within the court's discretion
Derived Forms
- ˈٰ, adverb
- ˈٰԱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ··ٰ·· [ahr-bi-, trair, -, uh, -lee] adverb
- ··ٰ··Ա noun
- ԴDz···ٰ· adjective
- ܲ···ٰ· adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of arbitrary1
Word History and Origins
Origin of arbitrary1
Example Sentences
Even the country’s closest democratic allies and largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, faced ridicule, seemingly arbitrary import tax rates, and threats of territorial ambition.
Joun quickly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the cuts as “arbitrary and capricious,” a victory for the states.
These stark disparities are signs of arbitrary action, not rational policymaking.
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.
Bonta called the action “arbitrary and capricious” and therefore illegal under federal law.
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