arbitrary reason

[/ˈɑːrbɪtreri ˈriːzən/]
noun phrasepl: arbitrary reasons
razão arbitrária
1. a reason or justification that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than logic, law, or fair judgment
He was fired for an arbitrary reason without any documented misconduct.
Ele foi demitido por uma razão arbitrária sem qualquer má conduta documentada.
2. a decision or action made without reasonable basis or established criteria
The teacher gave him a low grade for an arbitrary reason that had nothing to do with his actual performance.
O professor deu-lhe uma nota baixa por uma razão arbitrária que não tinha nada a ver com seu desempenho real.
This term is frequently used in Brazilian and Portuguese legal discourse, labor disputes, and administrative complaints. In the USA, 'arbitrary reason' is commonly referenced in employment law, civil rights discussions, and discussions about governmental overreach. The phrase carries significant weight in formal contexts and often implies unfair or unjust treatment.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
capricious reasonwhimsical reasonunfounded reasonunjustified reasonbaseless reason
Antonyms / Antônimos
justified reasonlogical reasonfair reasonrational reasonsubstantiated reason

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
razão arbitrária
standard formal usage in legal and administrative contexts
Rio de Janeiro
razão sem fundamento
colloquial variation emphasizing lack of foundation
São Paulo
motivo arbitrário
alternative using 'motivo' instead of 'razão'
Portugal
razão arbitrária
same as Brazilian Portuguese; legal and formal contexts

Related Words

arbitrary decisionarbitrary actionarbitrary judgmentarbitrarinesscapriciousnesswhimsy

Related Idioms & Phrases

for no rhyme or reason
on a whim
out of the blue
at the drop of a hat
por capricho
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