# random

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹændəm/ · frequency rank #2,590

## Definitions
1. A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
2. Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force.
3. The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range.
4. An undefined, unknown or unimportant person; a person of no consequence.
5. The direction of a rake-vein.
6. A frame for composing type.

## Etymology
From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-Germanic *randijō, from *rinnaną (“run”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)r̥-nw- (“to flow, move, run”). Cognate with Middle Low German uprinden (“to jump up”), Danish rende (“to run”). See run.

## Easily confused with
- **randy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/random-vs-randy)
- **rondo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/random-vs-rondo)
- **ransom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/random-vs-ransom)
- **randomly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/random-vs-randomly)
- **rand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rand-vs-random)
- **radon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/radon-vs-random)
- **Randle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/randle-vs-random)
- **Randal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/randal-vs-random)

## Common misspellings (9)
`arndom`, `radnom`, `randdom`, `randmo`, `randomm`, `ranndom`, `ranodm`, `rnadom`, `rrandom`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/random