English Online Dictionary. What means arbitrary? What does arbitrary mean?
English
Etymology
From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/, (haplology) /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹi/
- (US, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈɑɹ.bɪˌtɹɛ(ə).ɹi/
Adjective
arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)
- (usually of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
- Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.
- 1937/1938, Albert Einstein, letter to Max Born
- 1937/1938, Albert Einstein, letter to Max Born
- (mathematics) Any, out of all that are possible.
- Determined by independent arbiter.
- (linguistics) Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
Noun
arbitrary (plural arbitraries)
- Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
Derived terms
- cultural arbitrary
Further reading
- “arbitrary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “arbitrary”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- arbitrariness on Wikipedia.Wikipedia