arbitrary

Everyday

1. Arbitrary means chosen by chance or by someone's wish, not for a good reason or rule. tree →
2. (maths) An arbitrary number is any number you pick, used to show a rule works for all. tree →
3. Unfair power used without rules: an arbitrary punishment. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: «take an arbitrary point», «an arbitrary whole number»; in ethics and fairness: arbitrary rules feel unjust; in everyday talk for random choices.

Examples

• The order of the names was arbitrary. tree →
• Pick an arbitrary number and double it. tree →
• The rule seemed arbitrary to the pupils. tree →
• It was an arbitrary punishment with no warning. tree →
• The starting point on the line is arbitrary. tree →
• Giving prizes by height is arbitrary. tree →

Note

Pronounced AR-bi-tra-ry (UK often AR-bi-tree). In maths «arbitrary» means «any one, whichever you choose», so a fact shown for an arbitrary number is true for all of them. Adverb: arbitrarily.

In Jewish tradition

In maths: «take an arbitrary point», «an arbitrary whole number»; in ethics and fairness: arbitrary rules feel unjust; in everyday talk for random choices.

Examples

• All the other commentaries mentioned above, together with all quotations of other expounders of the same book, contain nothing but a medley of arbitrary, mystical explanations and sophistical distortions of scriptural verses, astrological notions, oriental (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →

Note

Pronounced AR-bi-tra-ry (UK often AR-bi-tree). In maths «arbitrary» means «any one, whichever you choose», so a fact shown for an arbitrary number is true for all of them. Adverb: arbitrarily.