HOW TO PRONOUNCE
arbitrary
/ˈɑɹbəˌtɹɛɹi/
Press play to hear how to pronounce arbitrary.
American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
Watch on YouTube ↗
Watch on YouTube ↗
LISTEN FOR THIS
Stress AR at the beginning.
The third syllable has a smaller beat. Keep the vowel after b light.
4 syllables · Stress on syllable 1
TRY SAYING
“The choice seemed arbitrary to the narrator.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does arbitrary mean?
adjective
- Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
- Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.
- Any, out of all that are possible.
More meanings (3)
adjective
- Determined by independent arbiter.
- Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.
noun
- Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈɑɹbəˌtɹɛɹi/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
These, by revealing more and more clearly the reign of law, steadily undermined the older theological view of arbitrary influence in nature.
Against such few as escaped, the punishment of death was recorded, while the most arbitrary proceedings were instituted against those who remained.
More book examples (3)
Or who would with any patience hear his friends, if they should presume to defend his government as not arbitrary and tyrannical?
With all his apparent tolerance and good humor, there was a great deal of the arbitrary and despotic in Mr. Jefferson's nature.
Nor did this well-timed ebullition of human rights subside until the arbitrary warrants were annulled by a decision of the King's Bench.