random

[ ran-duhm ]

/ ˈræn dəm /

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See synonyms for: random / randomly / randomness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern: the random selection of numbers.

Statistics. of or characterizing a process of selection in which each item of a set has an equal probability of being chosen.

Building Trades.

(of building materials) lacking uniformity of dimensions: random shingles.
(of ashlar) laid without continuous courses.
constructed or applied without regularity: random bond.

Slang.

unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place: A couple of random guys showed up at the party.
odd or unpredictable, often in an amusing way: my totally random life.

noun

something that is random, or a random state or condition: different statistical methods used to estimate randoms.

Slang.

a person or thing that is unknown, unidentified, or suspiciously out of place.
a person or thing that is odd or unpredictable.

Chiefly British. bank³ (def. 7b).

adverb

Building Trades. without uniformity: random-sized slates.

OTHER WORDS FOR random

1 haphazard, chance, fortuitous.

See synonyms for random on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about random

at random, without definite aim, purpose, method, or adherence to a prior arrangement; in a haphazard way: Contestants were chosen at random from the studio audience.

Origin of random

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English raundon, random, from Old French randon, derivative of randir “to gallop,” from Germanic

OTHER WORDS FROM random

ran·dom·ly, adverbran·dom·ness, nounnon·ran·dom, adjectivenon·ran·dom·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use random in a sentence

But science does not hold the answer to everything and even subscribes to the randomness of life on Earth.
‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism|Dina Goldstein|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nothing serves as a metaphor for Florida randomness quite like a sinkhole.
Boom Times for Florida’s Sinkhole Fixer-Uppers|Daniel Gross|August 13, 2013|DAILY BEAST
How much does randomness and juvenilia and alcohol contribute to each tweet?
Dear Kathryn Bigelow: Bret Easton Ellis Is Really Sorry|Bret Easton Ellis|December 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Fragile things—a crystal champagne flute, for instance, or a house of cards—are hurt by stress, randomness, and uncertainty.
A Manifesto for Disorder: Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s ‘Antifragile’ Reviewed|Robert Herritt|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Early versions of this idea were developed in his previous books Fooled by Randomness and The Black Swan.
A Manifesto for Disorder: Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s ‘Antifragile’ Reviewed|Robert Herritt|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Which is why I prefer to inject a little randomness into my attacks on gait-recognition: I put a handful of gravel into each shoe.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
This was an impressive change that introduced a linear relation in a realm that was one of randomness or even chaos.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
No matter how much we learn about death, we are still not free of its frightening randomness.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
Reduction from practically infinite choices to a finite number of realizations is at best a matter of randomness and exposure.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
Filled with 400 rods placed equidistantly, the lightning field is the interplay between precision and randomness.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for random

random

/ (ˈrændəm) /

adjective

lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazarda random selection

statistics

having a value which cannot be determined but only described probabilisticallya random variable
chosen without regard to any characteristics of the individual members of the population so that each has an equal chance of being selectedrandom sampling

informal (of a person) unknownsome random guy waiting for a bus

noun

at random in a purposeless fashion; not following any prearranged order

Derived forms of random

randomly, adverbrandomness, noun

Word Origin for random

C14: from Old French randon, from randir to gallop, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German rinnan to run

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for random

random

[ răn′dəm ]

Relating to a type of circumstance or event that is described by a probability distribution.

Relating to an event in which all outcomes are equally likely, as in the testing of a blood sample for the presence of a substance.

Other Idioms and Phrases with random

random

see at random.

random

OTHER WORDS FOR random

Idioms about random

Origin of random

OTHER WORDS FROM random

Words related to random

How to use random in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for random

Derived forms of random

Word Origin for random

Scientific definitions for random

Other Idioms and Phrases with random