as in referee
a person who impartially decides or resolves a dispute or controversy
the dean of student affairs is the proper arbiter when a student disputes a grade
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Recent Examples of arbiter
What explains the loss of poise and dignity among the traditional arbiters?
—
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
So the key distinction is that there’s a neutral arbiter.
—John E. Jones, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Appoint a Book Club Editor in Chief I’m all for democracy, but there’s still a place for arbiters of taste.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Still, Ternus isn’t the final arbiter for design decisions, which have been made by consensus for several years.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbiter
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
So the key distinction is that there’s a neutral arbiter.
—John E. Jones, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Appoint a Book Club Editor in Chief I’m all for democracy, but there’s still a place for arbiters of taste.
—Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Still, Ternus isn’t the final arbiter for design decisions, which have been made by consensus for several years.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arbiter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arbiter
Noun
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Specifically, Sweden reported to referees that Canada’s Marc Kennedy was illegally touching his stone, giving it a secondary push with his finger after releasing the handle on top.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
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To create authentic plays, the film’s team consulted with real basketball players, including 19-year NBA veteran Andre Iguodala, who also voices a zebra working as a referee.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The judge seemed to account strongly for the prosecution's evidence of Thompson's internet search history leading up to the attack.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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What responsibilities do judges have when tech system failures affect victims or defendants?—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But starting this season, it will be used at the major league level, giving players the chance to appeal an umpire’s ball-strike call.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
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And without an umpire watching closely — or without video evidence — that kind of infraction can be difficult to spot.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Brian Miller, who was fired in June 2019 for hiding behind his car as the first shots rang out at the school, got his job back with back pay less than a year later after an arbitrator ruled in his favor.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
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The arbitrator was moved by his story but ruled against him anyway, denying him his last chance for a win of any kind at this year’s Olympics.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arbiter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arbiter. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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