arm's length

noun

1

: a distance discouraging personal contact or familiarity

kept former friends at arm's length now

2

: the condition or fact that the parties to a transaction are independent and on an equal footing

arm's-length

ˈärmz-ˈleŋ(k)th 

-ˈlen(t)th

adjective

Examples of arm's length in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For North American observers on the evening of May 30, the Blue Moon rises in the east as the sun dips below the horizon, with Antares glowing roughly 3 degrees to the lower left of Earth's satellite — less than the width of your three middle fingers held at arm's length against the night sky. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 May 2026

After years of operating offshore and at arm's length from US regulators, the largest stablecoin company in the world appeared to be stepping inside the perimeter. —Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Inside Reba's Place on April 9, the country music icon with blazing red locks stood an arm's length from fans in the front row. —Bryan West, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2026

Position your screen correctly: To avoid strain, keep your screen about an arm's length away and a little below eye level. —Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for arm's length

• strength

Legal Definition

arm's length

noun

: the condition of the parties to a business deal in which each has independent interests and one does not dominate the other

—often used in the phrase at arm's length

a contract made at arm's length

arm's-length adjective