Skip to content

arbitrario

arbitrary

adjective ahr-bee-TRAH-ryoh Rare

Origin: From Latin arbitrarius (depending on the will of an arbiter)

Usage Note

Arbitrario describes a decision or action based on personal whim rather than rule or reason. Una detención arbitraria is an arbitrary arrest; poder arbitrario is despotic power. The noun is arbitrariedad, and the adverb is arbitrariamente.

Examples

"La decisión fue completamente arbitraria."

Natural Translation

The decision was completely arbitrary.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic