arm's-length

[ ahrmz-lengkth, -length ]

adjective
  1. not closely or intimately connected or associated; distant; remote: an arm's-length relationship.

Origin of arm's-length

1
First recorded in 1645–55

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for arm's-length

arm's-length

adjective
  1. lacking intimacy or friendliness, esp when possessing some special connection, such as previous closeness: we now have an arm's-length relationship

  2. (of commercial transactions) in accordance with market values, disregarding any connection such as common ownership of the companies involved

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