English Reference
Noun

arbitrator

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɑɹbɪˌtɹeɪtɝ/ UK /ˈɑːbɪtɹˌeɪtɐ/ ar·bi·tra·tor UK spelling arbitrator's, arbitrator's

n.a person who helps two people or groups reach an agreement when they are in a disagreement. This person is usually chosen by both sides to make a fair decision.

n.a neutral third party who facilitates the resolution of a dispute between two or more parties. Often used in legal or labor contexts to provide a binding or advisory decision.


SIMPLE

The two companies hired an arbitrator to settle their dispute.

CONTEXTUAL

After months of failed negotiations, the union and the management agreed to let an independent arbitrator decide the final terms of the contract.

COMPLEX

The role of the arbitrator is to interpret the specific terms of the collective bargaining agreement, ensuring that any resolution remains strictly within the bounds of the original contract.

On Monday, an arbitrator ruled that the Post had violated her rights as a union-protected employee and ordered the newspaper to reinstate her and compensate her for lost wages.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

An independent arbitrator has ordered the Washington Post to reinstate opinion columnist Karen Attiah and award her back pay after finding the newspaper lacked sufficient grounds to fire her.

Al Jazeera· 24 Aug 2026

From Middle English arbitrator, from Late Latin arbitrātor, from arbitror.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin la-lat arbitrātor
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated