arbitraire
arbitrary
adjective ar-bee-TREHR Rare
Origin: Latin 'arbitrarius'
Usage Note
Arbitraire describes a decision or action based on personal whim rather than rules or reason. In political discourse, le pouvoir arbitraire means tyrannical or unchecked power. As a noun (l'arbitraire), it refers to arbitrariness itself — l'arbitraire du signe linguistique is a key concept in Saussurean linguistics.
Examples
"Cette décision me semble complètement arbitraire."
Natural Translation
This decision seems completely arbitrary to me.
Literal Translation
This decision to-me seems completely arbitrary
Related Words
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