arbitrary
UK: ˈɑːbɪtrəri | US: ˈɑːrbɪtreri
adj. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system
adj. (of power or authority) unrestrained and autocratic in use
arbitrary = arbit<judge> + rary<adjective suffix>
- arbit (from Latin arbiter, meaning "judge" or "umpire")
- rary (a suffix forming adjectives, often derived from Latin -arius)
Etymology Origin:
The word arbitrary traces back to the Latin arbitrarius, meaning "depending on the will of an arbiter." An arbiter was a person with the authority to make judgments or decisions, often subjectively. Over time, the term evolved to emphasize decisions made without objective rules, reflecting personal discretion or whim. The suffix -ary (via Old French -aire) solidified its adjectival form in English, capturing the notion of unchecked authority or randomness.
The manager’s arbitrary decisions frustrated the team.
The law prohibits arbitrary arrests without evidence.
She chose an arbitrary number for the experiment.
Critics accused the king of arbitrary rule.
The test’s grading system seemed arbitrary to the students.