arbitrarily
To act in a way that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system. It often implies a decision-making process that is perceived as unfair or lacking logical justification.
Examples
3 of 5She arbitrarily chose a book from the shelf without looking at the titles.
She picked a book at random from the shelf without checking the titles first.
The judge was criticized for arbitrarily imposing sentences that did not align with the legal guidelines.
The judge faced criticism for handing out punishments based on personal whim rather than law.
You can't just arbitrarily decide that I'm wrong without hearing my side of the story.
You should not make a random decision that I am incorrect without listening to me.
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of an 'Arbiter' (a judge) who decides 'I'll be' (arbi) picking things from a 'tray' (trarily) just because he feels like it, not because of the rules.
Quick Quiz
The rules were ______ applied, meaning some people were punished while others were ignored for the same offense.
Correct!
The correct answer is: arbitrarily
Examples
She arbitrarily chose a book from the shelf without looking at the titles.
everydayShe picked a book at random from the shelf without checking the titles first.
The judge was criticized for arbitrarily imposing sentences that did not align with the legal guidelines.
formalThe judge faced criticism for handing out punishments based on personal whim rather than law.
You can't just arbitrarily decide that I'm wrong without hearing my side of the story.
informalYou should not make a random decision that I am incorrect without listening to me.
The participants were arbitrarily assigned to either the control group or the experimental group.
academicThe subjects were placed into groups using a random method rather than a specific system.
The project deadline was arbitrarily moved forward by two weeks, causing significant stress for the team.
businessManagement changed the deadline to an earlier date without a clear reason or consultation.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
acting arbitrarily
behaving in a way that ignores rules or logic
distributed arbitrarily
shared out in a random or unfair fashion
selected arbitrarily
picked without any particular plan or pattern
Often Confused With
Randomly suggests a lack of pattern (often statistical), while arbitrarily implies a human choice made without reason or fairness.
Usage Notes
This word is most frequently used in formal or academic contexts to describe decisions that seem unfair or lack a clear methodology. It often carries a negative connotation when describing the actions of authority figures.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'arbitrarily' when they simply mean 'quickly' or 'suddenly'. It must specifically involve a lack of systematic reasoning.
Memory Tip
Think of an 'Arbiter' (a judge) who decides 'I'll be' (arbi) picking things from a 'tray' (trarily) just because he feels like it, not because of the rules.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'arbitrarius' meaning 'uncertain' or 'depending on the will of another', derived from 'arbiter' meaning 'judge' or 'witness'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Western legal and political discourse, 'arbitrary' power is often contrasted with the 'rule of law', representing the difference between tyranny and justice.
Quick Quiz
The rules were ______ applied, meaning some people were punished while others were ignored for the same offense.
Correct!
The correct answer is: arbitrarily
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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