haphazard

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noun hap·haz·ard \ (ˌ)hap-ˈha-zərd \

Definition of haphazard

:chance 1

this little remnant preserved by the haphazard of chance
—Edith Hamilton

take our principles at haphazard
—John Locke

haphazard was our Word of the Day on 07/24/2017. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of haphazard from the Web

Her case reflected both the hysteria stirred up by Ebola at the time and the haphazard, varying rules governing public health emergencies across the country.

— marc santora, New York Times, "New Jersey Accepts Rights for People in Quarantine to End Ebola Suit," 27 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'haphazard.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of haphazard

¹hap + hazard

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1569

See Words from the same year

haphazard

adjective

Definition of haphazard

:marked by lack of plan, order, or direction

a haphazard assemblage of furniture

not … a collection of haphazard schemes, but rather the orderly component parts of a connected and logical whole
—F. D. Roosevelt

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haphazard

adverb

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haphazardly

adverb

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haphazardness

noun

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haphazardry

play \(ˌ)hap-ˈha-zər-drē\ noun

See haphazard defined for English-language learners

See haphazard defined for kids

Examples of haphazard in a Sentence

We were given a haphazard tour of the city.
considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good

Recent Examples of haphazard from the Web

Republicans are unlikely to pass a tax-reform bill all that similar to the White House’s haphazard sketch.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Tax Plan Would Be Bad for Those Who Don’t Own Yachts, Study Basically Finds," 12 July 2017
Unearthing Pokémon after the tutorial's giveaways seemed haphazard.

— matt peckham, Time, "Why 'Pokemon Go' Matters One Year Later," 6 July 2017
And as risky or haphazard as one of these financing ventures might sound, everyone looks smart if the movie is a hit.

— adam rogers, WIRED, "Luc Besson Tests the Outer Limits With Sci-Fi Epic Valerian," 6 July 2017
But the odds are stacked against prisoners such as Kozlovsky; the process of swapping POWs is haphazard and poorly coordinated.

— jack losh, Washington Post, "Hundreds have gone missing in eastern Ukraine’s dirty war," 26 June 2017
As the gangplank lowers, the crowd forms a haphazard line and marches down the dock and onboard.

— megan bush moody, Alaska Dispatch News, "Choreographed frenzy: What happens when the ferry arrives in our tiny town," 25 June 2017
Potential candidates to replace James Comey as F.B.I. director keep removing their names from consideration, perhaps because Trump’s interviews have been so haphazard and distracted.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "No Exit: Reince Priebus Muddles Through His Own Personal Hell," 5 June 2017
The mayor keeps saying the city council needs to get together on a weekend, but it's been a haphazard attempt to get anything organized, Landbeck said.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Differences over charter changes reflect divide in Aberdeen," 2 June 2017
Up until then, Asher had been nothing but good while filling multiple roles — spot starter, long man and late-inning reliever — and manager Buck Showalter believed one rocky outing shouldn’t force a haphazard decision to bump him.

— eduardo a. encina, baltimoresun.com, "Alec Asher rebounds, stifles Red Sox in Orioles' 3-2 win," 2 June 2017

Did You Know?

The "hap" in "haphazard" comes from an English word that means "happening," as well as "chance or fortune," and that derives from the Old Norse word happ, meaning "good luck." Perhaps it’s no accident that "hazard," as well, has its own connotations of luck: while it now refers commonly to something that presents danger, at one time it referred to a dice game similar to craps. (The name ultimately derives from the Arabic al-zahr, or "the die.") "Haphazard" first entered English as a noun (again meaning "chance") in the 16th century, and soon afterward was being used as an adjective to describe things with no apparent logic or order.

Origin and Etymology of haphazard

see ¹haphazard

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1576

See Words from the same year

haphazard Synonyms

Synonyms

aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, desultory, erratic, random, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, scattered, slapdash, stray

Antonyms

methodical (also methodic), nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

Near Antonyms

established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady; constant, continuous, even; arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned; aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful (or wilful)

Synonym Discussion of haphazard

random, haphazard, casual mean determined by accident rather than design. random stresses lack of definite aim, fixed goal, or regular procedure.

- a random selection of books

haphazard applies to what is done without regard for regularity or fitness or ultimate consequence.

- a haphazard collection of rocks

casual suggests working or acting without deliberation, intention, or purpose.

- a casual collector

HAPHAZARD Defined for English Language Learners

haphazard

adjective

Definition of haphazard for English Language Learners

: having no plan, order, or direction

HAPHAZARD Defined for Kids

haphazard

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adjective hap·haz·ard \ hap-ˈha-zərd \

Definition of haphazard for Students

:marked by lack of plan, order, or direction

We took a haphazard route.

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haphazardly

adverb

Learn More about haphazard

See words that rhyme with haphazard Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for haphazard Spanish Central: Translation of haphazard Nglish: Translation of haphazard for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of haphazard for Arabic speakers

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haphazard

Definition of haphazard

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haphazard was our Word of the Day on 07/24/2017. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of haphazard from the Web

Origin and Etymology of haphazard

haphazard

Definition of haphazard

haphazard

haphazardly

haphazardness

haphazardry

Examples of haphazard in a Sentence

Recent Examples of haphazard from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of haphazard

haphazard Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of haphazard

HAPHAZARD Defined for English Language Learners

haphazard

Definition of haphazard for English Language Learners

HAPHAZARD Defined for Kids

haphazard

Definition of haphazard for Students

haphazardly

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