arbitrary

/ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/

//ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"arbitrary" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“arbitrary” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #8,890 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#8,890
frequency rank, English
9
letters
14
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

arbitrary vs arbitrage
78% similar
arbitrary vs arbitrarily
82% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for arbitrary
PropertyValue
Headwordarbitrary
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/
Letters9
Frequency rank#8,890
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “arbitrary” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). arbitrary lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for arbitrary is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/. Corpus data places it at rank #8,890 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for arbitrary, with forms such as "abritrary", "arbbitrary", and "arbirtary". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "arbitrage", "arbitrarily", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Etymology tree Latin arbiter Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -ārius Latin arbitrāriusder. Middle English arbitrarie English arbitrary From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness… The correct English form is arbitrary, spelled A-R-B-I-T-R-A-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
  2. 2
    Determined by impulse rather than reason; often connoting heavy-handedness.
  3. 3
    Any, out of all that are possible.
  4. 4
    Determined by independent arbiter.
  5. 5
    Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin arbiter Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -ārius Latin arbitrāriusder. Middle English arbitrarie English arbitrary From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).

This word in other languages

arbitrario(Español)arbitraire(Français)willkürlich(Deutsch)arbitrário(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: abritrary,arbbitrary,arbirtary,arbitarry,arbitrarry,arbitraryy,arbitrayr,arbitrrary,arbitrray,arbittrary,arbtirary,aribtrary,arrbitrary,rabitrary

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of arbitrary - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

abritrary2arbbitrary1arbirtary2arbitarry2arbitrarry1arbitraryy1arbitrayr2arbitrrary1
Edit distance from "arbitrary"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "arbitrary"?
"arbitrary" is spelled A-R-B-I-T-R-A-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/.
What does "arbitrary" mean?
As an adjective, "arbitrary" means: Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
What words are commonly confused with "arbitrary"?
"arbitrary" is commonly confused with "arbitrage", "arbitrarily". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "arbitrary"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "arbitrary" is /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "arbitrary"?
Etymology tree Latin arbiter Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -ārius Latin arbitrāriusder. Middle English arbitrarie English arbitrary From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitrārius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “arbitrary”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-R-B-I-T-R-A-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈɑː.bɪ.tɹə.ɹi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “arbitrage” - see the side-by-side comparison. arbitrary vs arbitrage
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list