arbitrary delay

[/ˈɑːrbɪtreri dɪˈleɪ/]
nounpl: arbitrary delays
atraso arbitrário
1. An unjustified or capricious postponement of an action, decision, or process that lacks reasonable justification or legal basis
The court ruled that the government's arbitrary delay in processing the visa application violated the applicant's rights.
O tribunal determinou que o atraso arbitrário do governo no processamento do pedido de visto violou os direitos do solicitante.
2. In legal contexts, a postponement made without rational basis or due process
The defendant challenged the arbitrary delay in the trial proceedings.
O réu contestou o atraso arbitrário nos procedimentos do julgamento.
3. An unreasonable or unexplained postponement in business or administrative processes
The company faced criticism for arbitrary delays in customer service responses.
A empresa enfrentou críticas pelos atrasos arbitrários nas respostas de atendimento ao cliente.
The term 'arbitrary delay' is particularly important in both Brazilian and American legal systems as it relates to constitutional rights and due process. In Brazil, it's commonly invoked in administrative law and civil rights cases. In the USA, it appears frequently in immigration law, civil procedure, and administrative agency regulations. The concept reflects the principle that governments and institutions must act with reasonable promptness and cannot indefinitely postpone decisions without justification.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unjustified delaycapricious delayunreasonable postponementbaseless delayunexplained delay
Antonyms / Antônimos
justified delayreasonable postponementtimely actionprompt decision

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
atraso arbitrário
Standard term used in legal and administrative contexts
Portugal
atraso arbitrário
Same as Brazilian Portuguese; commonly used in European legal terminology
São Paulo
atraso injustificado
Alternative phrasing sometimes preferred in business contexts
Rio de Janeiro
demora sem justificativa
More colloquial variant in spoken language

Related Words

due processjustice delayedprocedural fairnessadministrative lawpostponementprocrastination

Related Idioms & Phrases

justice delayed is justice denied
without rhyme or reason
at the drop of a hat
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