1. Based on random choice or personal preference:
* Example: "The decision to choose red paint for the house was completely arbitrary."
* This means the decision wasn't based on any logical reasoning or necessity, but on a random, subjective preference.
2. Lacking a clear basis or justification:
* Example: "The punishment for the crime was arbitrary and disproportionate to the offense."
* This means the punishment was not fair or justified by the nature of the crime, but was chosen randomly or without any clear reasoning.
3. Unpredictable or inconsistent:
* Example: "The rules of the game were arbitrary and changed constantly."
* This means the rules lacked consistency and could be changed unpredictably, making it difficult to follow or strategize.
4. Determined by chance or luck:
* Example: "The lottery is a completely arbitrary system, based entirely on chance."
* This means there's no skill or strategy involved in winning, it's entirely random.
5. In linguistics:
* Example: "The connection between a word and its meaning is arbitrary."
* This means there's no inherent reason why the word "cat" represents a feline animal, it's just a convention that's been agreed upon.
It's important to note that "arbitrariness" can have both negative and neutral connotations. Sometimes it simply means a lack of reason or justification, while other times it implies unfairness or injustice.
The specific meaning of "arbitrariness" depends on the context in which it's used.