arbitrary terms

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "arbitrary terms" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe terms or conditions that are based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system. Example: "The contract was filled with arbitrary terms that seemed to favor one party over the other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Natalie is portrayed in similarly arbitrary terms.

The New York Times - Books

But it has never crossed my mind to call myself black Latina or Indian Latina, because those would be arbitrary terms compared with simply saying, "I'm Puerto Rican".

The New York Times

Machine learning is at the heart of a number of recent advances, including Google Photos' uncanny capacity to search through your images for arbitrary terms (photos of people hugging, for instance).

The New York Times - Tech

Its equations describe the existing particle zoo and predict new members (such as J/psi) with monotonous accuracy, but the parameters of those equations are completely arbitrary.Theorists do not like arbitrary terms in their equations, and they have lots of "next generation" models, which would take some of the arbitrariness out of the process, on the starting line.

The Economist

This is conceptually analogous to a forcefield, except with arbitrary terms tailored to aesthetic positioning.

Journal of Cheminformatics

"Truth and falsehood are arbitrary terms," Bullard wrote.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It should enable one to verify if an arbitrary term is contained in a set without the need to acquire knowledge of its content.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

The PL intensity of the SRSN films in this study has been qualitatively described as 'bright', which is a rather arbitrary term.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Beyond the new name — which, to be honest, I'm not a big fan of since "grab" is a fairly arbitrary term that's ripe for humor — the company also officially announced a service for corporate customers, which had been in beta, and its cashless payment service, which had also been in trial.

TechCrunch

In particular, the term order relation must be preserved after multiplication with an arbitrary term.

Plosone

Let t [ x 1, … ,  x k ] be an arbitrary term with free-variables x 1, … , x k and f be a new k -ary function symbol defined by f (x 1, … ,  x k ) =  t [ x 1, … ,  x k ].

Applied Mathematics and Computation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "arbitrary terms", ensure that the context clearly indicates the lack of rational basis or systematic reasoning behind the terms being described. Clarity is crucial to avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "arbitrary terms" when you actually mean "difficult terms" or "complex terms". "Arbitrary" emphasizes randomness or a lack of justification, not inherent difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "arbitrary terms" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "arbitrary" modifies "terms". It describes conditions, stipulations, or elements that are not based on any discernible system, reason, or pattern. Ludwig AI shows this usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "arbitrary terms" describes conditions or stipulations lacking a rational basis. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage across diverse contexts, including science and news. While grammatically sound and generally neutral in register, using it requires ensuring the context accurately reflects the absence of systematic reasoning. Alternatives like "random conditions" or "subjective criteria" may provide more precise nuances. Remembering the potential for misinterpretations—avoiding its use when the intent is to convey difficulty rather than randomness—is essential for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

random conditions

Replaces "terms" with "conditions", emphasizing the lack of pattern or predictability.

subjective criteria

Replaces "arbitrary" with "subjective", highlighting the personal bias involved.

capricious stipulations

Uses "capricious" for "arbitrary", suggesting impulsiveness, and "stipulations" for "terms", adding a formal tone.

unfounded requirements

Substitutes "arbitrary" with "unfounded", stressing the lack of a solid base.

unreasonable demands

Employs "unreasonable" to replace "arbitrary", focusing on the lack of logic or fairness.

groundless provisions

Replaces "terms" with "provisions", indicating a legal or formal context, and "arbitrary" with "groundless".

discretionary clauses

Uses "discretionary" to mean "arbitrary", emphasizing the freedom of choice, and "clauses" for "terms".

whimsical conditions

Replaces "arbitrary" with "whimsical", suggesting a playful or fanciful nature.

irrational specifications

Substitutes "arbitrary" with "irrational", pointing out the absence of reason, and "terms" with "specifications".

unjustified constraints

Uses "unjustified" for "arbitrary", stressing the lack of fairness, and "constraints" for "terms".

FAQs

How can I use "arbitrary terms" in a sentence?

You can use "arbitrary terms" to describe conditions or stipulations that seem to be based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any logical system. For example: "The contract contained several /s/arbitrary+provisions target="_blank" rel="nofollow">arbitrary provisions that were difficult to justify".

What's a good alternative to "arbitrary terms"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "random terms", "subjective terms", or "unreasonable terms". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "arbitrary terms" and "unfair terms"?

"Arbitrary terms" implies a lack of a rational basis or system, while "unfair terms" suggests that the terms are unjust or biased against one party. While arbitrary terms might be unfair, not all unfair terms are necessarily arbitrary; they could be based on a flawed but systematic rationale.

In what context might "arbitrary terms" be considered problematic?

"Arbitrary terms" can be problematic in legal contracts, negotiations, or any situation where fairness and transparency are expected. They can lead to disputes, mistrust, and perceptions of injustice.