- (of an action, a decision, a rule, etc.) not seeming to be based on a reason, system or plan and sometimes seeming unfair
- The choice of players for the team seemed completely arbitrary.
- He makes unpredictable, arbitrary decisions.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- completely
- entirely
- purely
- …
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- (formal) using power without limits and without considering other people
- the arbitrary powers of officials
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘dependent on one's will or pleasure, discretionary’): from Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter ‘judge, supreme ruler’, perhaps influenced by French arbitraire.
Check pronunciation:
arbitrary