Arbitrary Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of ARBITRARY

1

[more arbitrary; most arbitrary]

:

not planned or chosen for a particular reason

• An arbitrary number has been assigned to each district.

:

not based on reason or evidence

• I don't know why I chose that one; it was a completely arbitrary decision.

2

:

done without concern for what is fair or right

• Although arbitrary arrests are illegal, they continue to occur in many parts of the country.

— arbitrarily

/ˌɑɚbəˈtrerəli/ Brit /ˈɑːbətrərəli/

adverb

• The number was arbitrarily chosen.

— arbitrariness

/ˈɑɚbəˌtrerinəs/ Brit /ˈɑːbətrərinəs/

noun

[noncount]