random

1 of 3

adjective

ran·​dom ˈran-dəm How to pronounce random (audio)
1
a
: lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
b
: made, done, or chosen at random
read random passages from the book
2
a
: relating to, having, or being elements or events with definite probability of occurrence
random processes
b
: being or relating to a set or to an element of a set each of whose elements has equal probability of occurrence
a random sample
also : characterized by procedures designed to obtain such sets or elements
random sampling
randomly adverb

random

2 of 3

noun

: a haphazard course

random

3 of 3

adverb

: in a random manner
Phrases
at random
: without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
subjects chosen at random
Choose the Right Synonym for random

random, haphazard, casual mean determined by accident rather than design.

random stresses lack of definite aim, fixed goal, or regular procedure.

a random selection of books

haphazard applies to what is done without regard for regularity or fitness or ultimate consequence.

a haphazard collection of rocks

casual suggests working or acting without deliberation, intention, or purpose.

a casual collector

Examples of random in a Sentence

Adjective a random sequence of letters A random sample of doctors from around the country were selected for the study. We tasted the wines in random order and then rated each. a random collection of buttons She collects random photographs that she finds in antique shops. Pick a random word on the page. The computer program generates a list of random numbers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
But with so many suppliers, oversight can seem random. Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Attackers armed with guns and incendiary devices opened fire at random at the Crocus City complex - home to both a popular music hall and shopping center - on Friday night. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 23 Mar. 2024 The obits are posted on sites that publish a continuous stream of unrelated articles on random topics. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Missouri awarded 48 marijuana micro-licenses divided across the state’s eight congressional districts after the agency conducted a random lottery. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Here are some random considerations that need to be put into the final choice. Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024 Factors such as travel and injury and other random acts make the tournament hard to predict, according to Chartier. Christopher Brito, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024 This process transforms your message into a cipher– a jumble of seemingly random characters that conceal the true essence of your message. Robin Chataut, Discover Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024
Noun
Before each hearing, nine examiner names are picked at random by drawing balls from a spherical container, according to Richard Tefank, the Police Commission executive director. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2023 Your cryptography is thus only as strong as the random that supports it. Denis Mandich, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2021 Each kentuki has two users: the keeper, who owns the toy, and the dweller, a volunteer assigned at random who controls it remotely, via software interface, from elsewhere in the world. J. Robert Lennon, New York Times, 5 May 2020 The village of Blackhall Colliery in County Durham became a global spectacle when large sums of money began appearing at random near the main street in 2014. Fox News, 15 Jan. 2020 Tilleson said the city and police expects to conduct up to four random directed patrol missions in East Tosa in the coming year. Karen Pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 Nov. 2019 Oregon State is also launching a four-week effort to collect samples at random from nearly 1,000 residents in Corvallis. oregonlive, 18 Apr. 2020 This is typically slow because the electron has to hop from site to site in a kind of random, drift-like fashion. Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2020 What her doctor said next surprised her: Amanda had likely entered perimenopause, the five to 10 years leading up to menopause when hormones start to go haywire, spiking and dipping seemingly at random. Meryl Davids Landau, Woman's Day, 27 Jan. 2020
Adverb
There’s one really random one called Mindicine that a postpartum therapist recommended. Collier Meyerson, WIRED, 16 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'random.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, succession, surge, from Anglo-French randun, from Old French randir to run, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rinnan to run — more at run

First Known Use

Adjective

1619, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1561, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of random was in 1561

Dictionary Entries Near random

Cite this Entry

“Random.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/random. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

random

adjective
ran·​dom
ˈran-dəm
1
: showing no clear plan, purpose, or pattern
a random arrangement
2
: having a definite and especially an equal probability of occurring
a random number
randomly adverb
randomness noun

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