© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Celebrity Trainer Harley Pasternak Reveals How the Right Outfit Can Enhance Your Sweat Sessions
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Olivia Boyd-Smith of Par Olive Shares Her Collagen-Infused Wellness Ritual — Approved by Victoria Beckham
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
BLKOUT Walls Mural Festival Returns With 10 New Murals Across Detroit
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Brooks Nader Says She Feels Hottest Naked — Thanks to Boxing and Lymphatic Drainage Pinching Massages
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Rams Star Davante Adams Kicks Off Football Season With Taco Bell at SoFi Stadium
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
New Music Friday September 5: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, LANY, Lizzo, Latto, Ice Spice and More
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Chloe Fineman's Side Hustle Is Hunting for Vintage Jeans and Raiding Her Sister's Closet
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Shannon Nadj of Hot Pilates Teams Up With Sam Cutler of Mindfull for the Ultimate Fall Reset Program
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Meghann Fahy, Issa Rae, and More Stars Celebrate 10 Years of Chanel and Tribeca's Through Her Lens Program
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
New Music Friday August 29: Bon Jovi, Sabrina Carpenter, Halsey, Riley Green, The Kid LAROI and More
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Star Sightings: Morgan Wallen Performs at Levi's Stadium, Jenna Ortega Looks Chic in New York City
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
BuDhaGirl's Jessica Jesse Is Making Mindfulness Chic With Bangles That Double as Daily Rituals
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Val and Breezy Griffith Share Their SkinnyDipped Snacking Secrets and Why Stars Are Eating Them Up
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Dear Media President Paige Port on Her Daily Routine and What It Really Takes to Create a Hit Podcast
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
It-Girl Approved Spencer's Spa Has Officially Arrived in Los Angeles and It's Chicer Than Ever
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Travis Ogletree Shares How to Get His Jennifer Aniston-Inspired California Highlights No Matter Your Location
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Flavia Lanini Encourages Men to Get in on Hollywood’s Favorite Lymphatic Drainage Treatment
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Celeb-Loved Fashion Brand L’AGENCE Serves Up a Chic — and Tasty — Collab With West Hollywood Hotspot Craig's
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
New Music Friday August 22: Ciara, Doja Cat, Kid Cudi, Teyana Taylor, Offset, Florence + The Machine and More
© Copyright ET Online
entertainment
Jennifer Aniston Spills the Dry Shampoo Mistake You’re Probably Making — Plus, Her Secret Superpower
art
auto
exercise
FFNEWS
finance
game
health
how_to
mental
music
nation
people
retirement
science
world

Word of the Day

arbitrary

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 2, 2025 is:

arbitrary • \AHR-buh-trair-ee\  • adjective

Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right.

// Because the committee wasn’t transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary.

// An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant.

See the entry >

Examples:

“The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England’s sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God’s creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024

Did you know?

Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word’s etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.



Kate Middleton Appears to Debut BLONDE Hair!
Hulk Hogan Through the Years: Wrestling Legend, Film Star and Reality TV Dad | ET Vault Unlocked
DWTS: Val Chmerkovskiy HITS BACK at Maks’ HARSH Criticism of Jan Ravnik (Exclusive)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach Explains His 'Gruff' Red Carpet Vibe (Exclusive)
Miles Teller GUSHES Over Wife Keleigh After 6th Wedding Anniversary (Exclusive)
Remembering Diane Keaton: Her Movies Set to Return to Theaters
'Wednesday' Cast Reacts to Lady Gaga's Season 2 Appearance #wednesday #jennaortega #ladygaga
Wayward Cast Reacts to WILD Finale and Explains Series' Biggest Twists (SPOILERS!)
Tom Cruise Attends Oasis Concert Years After Being Roasted by Band