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

The arbitration proceedings — essentially, Bauer’s appeal hearing — lasted for months. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

What to know:Why arbitration should be avoided in real estate disputes Reach the reporter at [e-mail] or 602-444-8040. —Catherine Reagor, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

The terms of service on Casting Networks include a mandatory arbitration provision and a class action waiver, which purports to bar subscribers from pursuing class action suits. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024

Most of the legal claims have since been moved to arbitration. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024

In September 2020, the franchising arm of Donut Bar — Sweet Assets Franchise Group — filed for bankruptcy liquidation amid a lawsuit and franchisee arbitration claims. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024

Instead, the brief stated that the district court should reconsider the economic impacts and arbitration between the U.S. and Canada over the treaty. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

That basically means Vargas would have played at least the three years necessary to qualify for salary arbitration, and that is unlikely. Vargas, signed out of the Dominican Republic, was not drafted. —Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Bloomberg reports that the case will be going to arbitration in France soon. —Melvin Backman, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024

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

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