definition of the word arbitrary

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Arbitrary

From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrarius (“‘arbitrary, uncertain’”), from arbiter (“‘witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer’”)

arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)

Positive
arbitrary

Comparative
more arbitrary

Superlative
most arbitrary

Based on individual discretion or judgment.
Unrestrained by law; tyrannical.

"The Russian trials were Stalin's purges, with which he attempted to consolidate his power. Like most people in the West, I believed these show trials to be the arbitrary acts of a cruel dictator." (Max Born, Letters to Einstein)
Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
(usually of a decision) Not based on any objective distinction; almost made at random.

The decision to use 18 years as the legal age of adulthood was arbitrary, as both age 17 and 19 were reasonable alternatives.
(mathematics) Any and all possible.

The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.

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