arbitrary
- 01 C1 Advanced
based on a random choice or a personal whim rather than a logical reason.
determined by individual discretion or chance rather than by any objective necessity or consistent system.
Simple“The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary to the fans.”
In context“The committee's decision to reject the proposal appeared entirely arbitrary, as they failed to provide any clear criteria for their judgment.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
using power in an unfair way without considering what is right.
describing the exercise of power or authority without restraint and regardless of justice or the law.
Simple“The citizens protested against the arbitrary arrests made by the secret police.”
In context“The new regulations were criticized as an arbitrary exercise of ministerial power that bypassed the usual parliamentary oversight.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
describing how words have no natural connection to the things they represent.
referring to the lack of a natural or intrinsic connection between a linguistic signifier and its meaning.
Simple“The word 'tree' is arbitrary because there is no physical reason why those sounds mean that plant.”
In context“Saussure argued that the relationship between the signifier and the signified is fundamentally arbitrary, governed only by social convention.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
representing any value you choose to pick.
referring to a value or constant that is not specifically determined but can be any member of a set.
Simple“Let x be an arbitrary integer in the following equation.”
In context“The proof holds true for an arbitrary value of n, provided that n is a positive real number.”
Synonyms
“This is especially so, given that bosses can decide where their employees work based on fairly arbitrary reasons.”
“Historically, scientists have viewed the cosmos as akin to a rock—complex, perhaps even beautiful, but formed through arbitrary events.”
Etymology tree Latin arbiter Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -ārius Latin arbitrāriusder. Middle English arbitrarie English arbitrary From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.