arbitrator

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tor ˈär-bə-ˌtrā-tər 

: one that arbitrates a dispute : arbiter

an impartial arbitrator

Synonyms

• adjudicator
• arbiter
• judge
• referee
• umpire

Examples of arbitrator in a Sentence

Both sides agreed to accept a decision by an impartial arbitrator.

the couple finally agreed to let the salesclerk be the final arbitrator and tell them which shirt looked best

Recent Examples on the Web

Two former Orland Park police officers, including one who an arbitrator ruled should be reinstated to his job, filed lawsuits against the village in federal court in Chicago. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

The arrest comes less than a year after an arbitrator awarded Netflix $8.8 million in damages over arbitration initiated by Rinsch, who alleged the streaming giant had breached their contract and owed him at least $14 million. —Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025

But … Full Story Arbitrator sides with Meta in bid to halt sales of ex-employee’s memoir An arbitrator has sided with Meta in its case against a former employee who made a series of misconduct allegations about the Facebook and Instagram parent company in a memoir published this week. —Julia Shapero, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025

Last year, a labor arbitrator ruled that state agencies can require their employees to come to the office even if their union contracts give them the right to work from home, according to CalMatters. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin arbitrātor "umpire," from Latin arbitrārī "to consider, judge, arbitrate" + -tor, agent suffix

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arbitrator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• aspirator
• aviator
• calculator

Kids Definition

arbitrator

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tor ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt-ər 

: a person chosen to settle differences in a disagreement

Legal Definition

arbitrator

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tor ˈär-bə-ˌtrā-tər 

: an impartial person or group that is given the power by disputing parties to resolve their dispute compare mediator