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arbitrary

/ˈɑɹ.bɪˌtɹɛɹ.i/adjective4 syllables

Arbitrary means: based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice.

Synonyms for arbitrary6

adjective, as in based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice

absolute, capricious, impulsive, whimsical, discretionary, discretional

Opposites of arbitrary

nonarbitrary

What does arbitrary mean?1

adjective

1

based on or subject to individual discretion or preference or sometimes impulse or caprice“an arbitrary decision”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Arbitrary in a sentence

  • No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.jakov
  • Latin word order is free, but not arbitrary.Jesse
  • If you do not conform to society's arbitrary rules, you will be shunned.mailohilohi
  • Happiness and success are not arbitrary, but depend on your attitude concerning life.dzouras
  • She notes thousands of women, men and children languish in prolonged arbitrary detention.Cangarejo
  • Frontier justice is a rough, arbitrary justice driven by necessity rather than legal procedure.Myrano_
  • My mother prefers the arbitrary selection of the lottery machines over my lucky numbers.Zifre
  • Would it be better if numbers were completely arbitrary and had no emotional associations?nonong

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.