random
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.
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).
Building Trades. without uniformity: random-sized slates.
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
1Other words for random
Other words from random
- ran·dom·ly, adverb
- ran·dom·ness, noun
- non·ran·dom, adjective
- non·ran·dom·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use random in a sentence
Are the entries in those squares larger or not than the randoms, calculated as above, viz.
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British Dictionary definitions for random
/ (ˈrændəm) /
lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazard: a random selection
statistics
having a value which cannot be determined but only described probabilistically: a random variable
chosen without regard to any characteristics of the individual members of the population so that each has an equal chance of being selected: random sampling
informal (of a person) unknown: some random guy waiting for a bus
at random in a purposeless fashion; not following any prearranged order
Origin of random
1Derived forms of random
- randomly, adverb
- randomness, noun
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
[ 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with random
see at random.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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