arbitration

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tion ˌär-bə-ˈtrā-shən 

: the action of arbitrating

especially : the hearing and determination of a disputed case by an arbiter

a case that is in arbitration

They agreed to settle the dispute by arbitration.

arbitrational

ˌär-bə-ˈtrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Did you know?

Are arbiter and arbitration arbitrary?

A large portion of the words we use today come from Latin roots. Many of these words retain a meaning that is closely related to their Latin ancestor, although sometimes they will drift a considerable distance from their roots (sinister, for instance, had the meaning of “on the left side” in Latin, but also meant “unlucky, inauspicious”). In some instances, a single Latin word will give rise to multiple words in English, some of which have strayed in meaning, and others which have not.

An example of this may be found in our word arbiter. We trace it to the Latin root with the same spelling, arbiter, meaning “eyewitness, onlooker, person appointed to settle a dispute.” A number of English words stem from the Latin arbiter, many of which have to do with judging or being a judge. An arbiter is a judge, and arbitration is the act of judging, or serving as an arbiter. Yet the most common meaning of arbitrary is “existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will,” which seems to be quite a bit different in meaning from the other two words. Arbitrary does indeed come from the same Latin root, and its oldest meaning in English was “depending on choice or discretion particularly regarding the decision of a judge or a tribunal.” But over time it developed additional senses that are somewhat removed from that initial meaning.

Examples of arbitration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the company unsuccessfully petitioned the Marion County Court to force the matter into arbitration, a judge deemed the noncompete clause unenforceable under Indiana law in September. —Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 28 Oct. 2025

Justin Topa has a team option and a few more pitchers, like Michael Tonkin, are arbitration-eligible. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025

Meanwhile, Venezuela remains locked in a territorial dispute with Guyana over the oil-rich Essequibo region, which Caracas claims despite an international arbitration ruling in Guyana's favor. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

The executive famously went on to win a large arbitration award against the studio. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English arbitracioun, borrowed from Anglo-French arbitracion, borrowed from Latin arbitrātiōn-, arbitrātiō, from arbitrārī "to consider, judge, arbitrate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arbitration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

arbitration

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tion ˌär-bə-ˈtrā-shən 

: the act of arbitrating

especially : the settling of a dispute in which both sides present their arguments to a third person or group for settlement

Legal Definition

arbitration

noun

ar·​bi·​tra·​tion ˌär-bə-ˈtrā-shən 

: the process of resolving a dispute (as between labor and management) or a grievance outside of the court system by presenting it to an impartial third party or panel for a decision that may or may not be binding compare mediation

— final offer arbitration

: interest arbitration in which the arbitrator must accept or reject the final offer of any party and may not decide to compromise

— grievance arbitration

: arbitration of a dispute over something in an existing collective bargaining agreement

called also rights arbitration

compare interest arbitration in this entry

— interest arbitration

: arbitration of a dispute over the provisions to be entered in a new contract compare grievance arbitration in this entry

— rights arbitration

: grievance arbitration in this entry

arbitrational

ˌär-bə-ˈtrā-shə-nəl 

adjective

Etymology

Latin arbitratio, from arbitrari to judge, arbitrate, from arbiter onlooker, arbitrator