Arbitrary
Based on personal whim or random choice rather than reason or system; not fixed or constrained.
adjectiveArbitrary
Based on personal whim or random choice rather than reason or system; not fixed or constrained.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a classroom where the teacher assigns seats and grades by flipping a coin instead of using a rubric; there is no consistent rule, and every outcome feels arbitrary.
Sounds Like
AR-bih-trer-ee
Looks Like
Resembles the word 'arbitrator' and shares the same root related to judgment.
Remember This
Arbitrary often means random or capricious. In legal or formal contexts, something arbitrary lacks justification or fairness, and 'arbitrary power' refers to unchecked, whim-driven authority.
Other Forms
Connect With
capricious, whimsical, discretionary, subjective, arbitrary power, unreasoned
Note
Do not confuse with 'random'—arbitrary emphasizes whim or discretionary choice without justification, whereas random emphasizes true chance. In some contexts, 'arbitrary' can describe standards or decisions that are not fixed or universal.