arbitrate

verb

ar·​bi·​trate ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce arbitrate (audio)
arbitrated; arbitrating

transitive verb

1
: to act as arbiter upon (a disputed question) : to settle (a dispute between two people or groups) after hearing the arguments and opinions of both
She arbitrated the dispute.
2
: to submit or refer for decision to an arbiter
agreed to arbitrate their differences
3
archaic : decide, determine

intransitive verb

: to act as arbiter
The council will arbitrate among the interest groups.
arbitrative adjective

Examples of arbitrate in a Sentence

The council will arbitrate among the interest groups. arbitrate between managers and staff She will arbitrate the dispute.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Disney’s argument was that Piccolo had allegedly entered into a subscriber agreement when signing up for a Disney+ trial years ago that requires users to arbitrate all disputes with the company. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 2 Oct. 2024 Representation is only part of the puzzle because developers will have to arbitrate between groups with different values. Daniel Björkegren, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2023 In an August 15, 2024 Opinion, a Puerto Rico federal judge ordered claims brought by Diamond Sports, a sports agency created by rapper Bad Bunny, against the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to be arbitrated rather than heard in court. Chris Deubert, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024 Court documents show that the company is trying to get the $50,000 lawsuit tossed because the plaintiff, Jeffrey Piccolo, signed up for a one-month trial of the streaming service Disney+ in 2019, which requires trial users to arbitrate all disputes with the company. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for arbitrate 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin arbitrātus, past participle of arbitrārī "to consider, judge, decide," verbal derivative of arbitr-, arbiter "onlooker, arbiter"

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of arbitrate was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near arbitrate

Cite this Entry

“Arbitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arbitrate. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

arbitrate

verb
ar·​bi·​trate ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce arbitrate (audio)
arbitrated; arbitrating
1
: to settle a disagreement after hearing the arguments of both sides
arbitrate between management and labor
2
: to refer a dispute to others for settlement : submit to arbitration

Legal Definition

arbitrate

verb
ar·​bi·​trate ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt How to pronounce arbitrate (audio)
arbitrated; arbitrating

transitive verb

1
: to act as arbitrator for
2
: to bring to arbitration for settlement
agreed to arbitrate their dispute

intransitive verb

: to act as arbitrator
arbitrative adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on arbitrate

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