random

noun ran·dom \ ˈran-dəm \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: random in a Sentence

Definition of random

: a haphazard course

— at random

: without definite aim, direction, rule, or method

subjects chosen at random

See random defined for kids

Recent Examples of random from the Web

That code was replicated on as many as 17 state lottery systems as MUSL integrated the random-number software Tipton designed.

— jason clayworth, USA TODAY, "The untold story of how a gaming geek with a checkered past pulled off the biggest lottery scam in U.S. history," 26 Mar. 2018
Those customers, who were chosen at random, were asked about recent travel experiences.

— kate silver, chicagotribune.com, "Airline customer satisfaction is higher than you might think, a survey indicates," 7 May 2018
Those customers, who were chosen at random, were asked about recent travel experiences.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Airline customer satisfaction is higher than you might think, a survey indicates," 7 May 2018
Rich was shot and killed near his Washington home in July 2016 in what police ruled a random, botched robbery.

— callum borchers, Washington Post, "Why Fox News will probably not be penalized for airing a Seth Rich conspiracy theory," 14 Mar. 2018
The names of qualified students would be picked at random until a class is filled.

— jeffrey selingo, The Atlantic, "The Best Ways to Fix College Admissions Are Probably Illegal," 27 Apr. 2018
Each institution would establish its own criteria for admissions and then all the names of qualified students would be put into a hat and picked at random until the class is filled.

— jeffrey j. selingo, Washington Post, "The higher education divide: The ‘haves’ keep getting richer. Other schools? Not so much.," 6 Apr. 2018
Male cougars wander at random, which is what the DNR is seeing with the Brookfield cougar, according to Walter.

— karen pilarski, USA TODAY, "Cougar caught on camera looking through window into Wisconsin home," 20 Feb. 2018
Pick a number at random, Hogg suggested, and contact the company next to it.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Facing boycott, Laura Ingraham apologizes for taunting Parkland teen over college rejections," 29 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of random

Middle English, succession, surge, from Anglo-French randun, from Old French randir to run, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German rinnan to run — more at run

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

random

adjective

Definition of random

1 a : lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

b : made, done, or chosen at random

read random passages from the book

2 a : relating to, having, or being elements or events with definite probability of occurrence

random processes

b : being or relating to a set or to an element of a set each of whose elements has equal probability of occurrence

a random sample

; also : characterized by procedures designed to obtain such sets or elements

random sampling

—

randomly

adverb

—

randomness

noun

See random defined for English-language learners

Examples of random in a Sentence

a random sequence of letters
A random sample of doctors from around the country were selected for the study.
We tasted the wines in random order and then rated each.
a random collection of buttons
She collects random photographs that she finds in antique shops.
Pick a random word on the page.
The computer program generates a list of random numbers.

Recent Examples of random from the Web

Using this as a source of quasi-random variation in compensation, an economist found that teams that had to pay extra for a player gave him additional plate appearances, even controlling for characteristics of the player and the team.

— kevin lewis, BostonGlobe.com, "Electoral impacts of robot workers," 13 July 2018
As some houses smoldered, a few residents who hadn't left or had managed to return surveyed damage that seemed random: destroyed homes next to others completely intact.

— NBC News, "Weather grants some relief as wildfires burn in West amid heatwave," 7 July 2018
News alert: It's come to our attention that our favorite kinda-random-but-also-completely-perfect-though-unconfirmed couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, having just gone to India together, are seemingly kicking it up another notch.

— julyssa lopez, Glamour, "Don't Freak Out, but It Looks Like Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Got Matching Gold Rings," 7 July 2018
Police regard the home invasion as a targeted, not random, intrusion and that there was a lone invader who demanded specific items.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Potential Legal Ramifications of the Disturbing Accusations Against LeSean McCoy," 11 July 2018
Polling officials are chosen at random, much like jury duty in the United States.

— kenneth f. greene, Washington Post, "What’s next for Mexico? Here are 5 things you need to know.," 6 July 2018
More than a quarter of those murders appeared to be totally random, the result of robberies like X’s, or cases of mistaken identity, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time; over two-thirds remain unsolved.

— dan rys, Billboard, "Grappling With The Complicated Life and Painful Death of XXXTentacion," 29 June 2018
Routes have been chosen at random, span 50 stops one half mile apart, for a total of 25 miles.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Breeding Bird Survey yields 56 species over 25-mile route," 20 June 2018
Acid noted that other violent games have existed on Steam's platform, including a 2015 game that involved killing civilians at random, though not in a school setting.

— CBS News, ""Active Shooter" video game sparks outrage in Parkland, Florida," 29 May 2018