Arbitrary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈär-bə-ˌtrer-ē/ ar·bi·trary

Meaning & Definition of Arbitrary

Arbitrary (adjective)

  1. chosen, decided, etc. seemingly at random or on a whim rather than in a reasoned or methodical way; also, random
  2. based on or determined by individual preference or convenience rather than by necessity or the intrinsic value of something
  3. not restrained or limited in the exercise of power, ruling by absolute authority

Arbitrary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity

    "an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again"

    similar: dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful
    related: arrogant, commanding, demanding, dominant, domineering, haughty, imperative, lordly, masterful, overbearing, presumptuous, authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, totalitarian, tyrannical, tyrannous, capricious, changeable, erratic, inconsistent, mercurial, whimsical, biased, inequitable, partisan, prejudiced, unequal, unfair, unjust, unrealistic, unreasonable, unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous
    near: balanced, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective, rational, reasonable, understanding, unbiased, unprejudiced, ethical, honorable, irreproachable, law-abiding, moral, principled, unimpeachable

  2. lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

    "the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary"

    similar: aimless, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray
    related: accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, scattershot, shotgun, irregular, odd, sporadic, spot, directionless, objectless, purposeless, indiscriminate, unsystematic, undirected, disorderly, disorganized, undiscriminating, unselective
    opposite: methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized
    near: established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady, constant, continuous, even, arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned, aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful

  3. exercising power or authority without interference by others

    "a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers"

    similar: absolute, autocratic, czarist, despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical, tyrannous
    related: authoritarian, jackbooted, oppressive, totalitarian, antidemocratic, antirepublican, high-handed, magisterial, domineering, imperious, masterful, all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent, autonomous, self-governing, self-ruling, sovereign, unconditional, unlimited
    opposite: limited
    near: circumscribed, restrained, restricted, constitutional, lawful, democratic, republican

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Arbitrary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Arbitrary:

dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful, aimless, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, absolute, autocratic, czarist, despotic, monocratic, tyrannical, tyrannous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Arbitrary

Words with the opposite meaning of Arbitrary:

methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized, limited

Related Words for Arbitrary

arrogant, commanding, demanding, dominant, domineering, haughty, imperative, lordly, masterful, overbearing, presumptuous, authoritarian, totalitarian, capricious, changeable, inconsistent, mercurial, whimsical, biased, inequitable, partisan, prejudiced, unequal, unfair, unjust, unrealistic, unreasonable, unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled

Near Antonyms of Arbitrary

balanced, disinterested, dispassionate, equal, equitable, evenhanded, fair, impartial, just, nonpartisan, objective, rational, reasonable, understanding, unbiased, unprejudiced, ethical, honorable, irreproachable, law-abiding, moral, principled, unimpeachable, established, fixed, set, stable, steady, constant, continuous

Word Forms of Arbitrary

Derived words: arbitrarily (adverb), arbitrariness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Arbitrary

Middle English, "depending on individual discretion," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French arbitraire, arbitrarie "relating to arbitration," borrowed from Latin arbitrārius "relating to or depending on the discretion of an arbiter," from arbitr-, arbiter arbiter + -ārius -ary:2

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Arbitrary

Frequently Asked Questions about Arbitrary

What does "Arbitrary" mean?

"Arbitrary" means chosen, decided, etc. seemingly at random or on a whim rather than in a reasoned or methodical way; also, random. As an adjective, it is defined as: chosen, decided, etc. seemingly at random or on a whim rather than in a reasoned or methodical way; also, random. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Arbitrary"?

Other words for "Arbitrary" include dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful, aimless, catch-as-catch-can and desultory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Arbitrary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Arbitrary"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Arbitrary". Common alternatives include dictatorial, high-handed, imperious, peremptory, willful, aimless, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic and haphazard.

What is the opposite of "Arbitrary"?

Antonyms of "Arbitrary" include methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized and limited. Near antonyms include balanced, disinterested, dispassionate and equal.

How do you use "Arbitrary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Arbitrary" in a sentence: "an arbitrary piano teacher who makes all her students do the same exercises over and over again"; "the order of the names of the 10 semifinalists is entirely arbitrary"; "a nation with no tradition of democracy, only a long history of arbitrary rulers".

Is "Arbitrary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Arbitrary" is an adjective.

Is "Arbitrary" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Arbitrary" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Arbitrary"?

"Arbitrary" is pronounced /ˈär-bə-ˌtrer-ē/ and divided into syllables as ar·bi·trary.