Pronunciation Adjective
arbitrary
- (usually, of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
- Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary.
- The decision to use 18 years as the legal age of adulthood was arbitrary, as both age 17 and 19 were reasonable alternatives.
- Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
, letter to Max Born - quote en
- quote en
- (mathematics) Any, out of all that are possible.
- The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.
- Determined by independent arbiter.
- (linguistics) Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.
- French: arbitraire
- German: willkürlich, nach Ermessen, in freiem Ermessen, frei, Ermessens-, arbiträr
- Italian: arbitrario, arbitraria
- Portuguese: arbitrário, arbitrária
- Russian: произво́льный
- Spanish: arbitrario
- German: willkürlich, eigenmächtig, Willkür-, tyrannisch, rücksichtslos
- French: arbitraire
- German: willkürlich, arbiträr, eigenwillig, unbegründet, launenhaft, launisch
- Italian: arbitrario
- Portuguese: arbitrário
- Russian: произво́льный
- Spanish: arbitrario
- French: arbitraire
- German: beliebig, willkürlich, erratisch
- Italian: a caso
- Portuguese: arbitrário
- Russian: произво́льный
- French: quelconque
- German: beliebig, frei wählbar
- Russian: произвольный
arbitrary (plural arbitraries)
- Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
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