arbitrary
adjective
ar·bi·trary
ˈär-bə-ˌtrer-ē
-ˌtre-rē
1
a
: existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will
an arbitrary choice
When a task is not seen in a meaningful context it is experienced as being arbitrary.—Nehemiah Jordan
b
: based on or determined by individual preference or convenience rather than by necessity or the intrinsic nature of something
an arbitrary standard
take any arbitrary positive number
2
a
: not restrained or limited in the exercise of power : ruling by absolute authority
an arbitrary government
b
: marked by or resulting from the unrestrained and often tyrannical exercise of power
protection from arbitrary arrest and detention
3
law
: depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by law
The manner of punishment is arbitrary.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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