arbitrary result

[/ˈɑːrbɪtreri rɪˈzʌlt/]
nounpl: arbitrary results
resultado arbitrário
1. An outcome or conclusion that is determined by chance, personal whim, or without a logical basis rather than by reason or system
The judge's decision was criticized as an arbitrary result that lacked legal precedent.
A decisão do juiz foi criticada como um resultado arbitrário que careceia de precedente legal.
2. In mathematics or computing, an outcome selected randomly or without a consistent rule
The algorithm produced an arbitrary result when given incomplete data.
O algoritmo produziu um resultado arbitrário quando recebeu dados incompletos.
3. A determination made on impulse or without proper justification
Dismissing the employee seemed like an arbitrary result of the manager's bad mood.
Demitir o funcionário pareceu um resultado arbitrário do mau humor do gerente.
This term is commonly used in legal and academic contexts in both Brazil and the USA to criticize unfair or unjustified decisions. In Brazilian Portuguese, it's frequently employed in court discussions (Tribunal) and formal complaints about government or institutional decisions. In American English, 'arbitrary' often appears in civil rights discussions and complaints against perceived governmental overreach.
NYC Slang
sketchy call, BS decision
Synonyms / Sinônimos
random outcomecapricious resultwhimsical decisionunjustified conclusiondiscretionary outcome
Antonyms / Antônimos
justified resultlogical conclusionreasoned outcomesystematic resultprincipled decision

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
resultado arbitrário
Standard usage across Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
resultado na base da vontade
More colloquial phrasing
São Paulo
resultado arbitrário
Formal business and legal contexts
Portugal
resultado arbitrário
Similar usage; may also use 'decisão arbitrária'

Related Words

arbitrarinessarbitrary decisioncapriciousrandomdiscretionwhimsyjustificationreasoning

Related Idioms & Phrases

out of thin air
at the drop of a hat
on a whim
without rhyme or reason
pulled out of a hat
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