Last Updated：2025/11/19

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(usually of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random. / Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.

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arbitrary

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Source Word

arbitrary

IPA(Pronunciation)

/ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/

Adjective

of a decision usually

(usually of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random. / Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.

Japanese Meaning

恣意的な / 独断的な / 気まぐれな

What is this buttons?

The committee made an arbitrary choice about the venue, trusting each member's personal judgment.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

委員会は会場について、各委員の個々の裁量に基づいて選択を行った。

Details

Sense（1）

Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

Details

Sense（2）

Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.

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.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation