A random sample or method is one in which all the people or things involved have an equal chance of being chosen.
The survey used a random sample of two thousand people across England and Wales.
The competitors will be subject to random drug testing.
Synonyms: chance, spot, casual, stray More Synonyms of random
randomlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
...interviews with a randomly selected sample of thirty girls aged between 13 and18.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe events as random, you mean that they do not seem to follow a definite plan or pattern.
...random violence against innocent victims.
Children's words and actions are often fairly random.
...random variations of the wind.
randomlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
...drinks and magazines left scattered randomly around.
randomnessuncountable noun
Isn't this a demand to control the randomness of life?
3.
See at random
4.
See at random
More Synonyms of random
random in British English
(ˈrændəm)
adjective
1.
lacking any definite plan or prearranged order; haphazard
a random selection
2. statistics
a.
having a value which cannot be determined but only described probabilistically
a random variable
b.
chosen without regard to any characteristics of the individual members of the population so that each has an equal chance of being selected
random sampling
3. informal
(of a person) unknown
some random guy waiting for a bus
noun
4. informal
an unknown person or stranger
5. at random
Derived forms
randomly (ˈrandomly)
adverb
randomness (ˈrandomness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French randon, from randir to gallop, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German rinnan to run
random in American English
(ˈrændəm)
noun
1.
impetuous and haphazard movement
now only in at random, without careful choice, aim, plan, etc.; haphazardly
adjective
2.
lacking aim or method; purposeless; haphazard
3.
not uniform; esp., of different sizes
said of stones, etc. in certain types of masonry
4. Statistics
of statistical sample selection in which all possible samples have equal probability of selection
SYNONYMY NOTE: random applies to that which occurs or is done without careful choice, aim, plan, etc. [a random remark]; haphazard applies to that which is done, made, or said without regard for its consequences,relevance, etc. and therefore stresses the implication of accident or chance [a haphazard selection of books]; casual implies a happening or seeming to happen by chance without intention or purpose andoften connotes nonchalance, indifference, etc. [a casual acquaintance]; desultory suggests a lack of method or system, as in jumping from one thing to another [his desultory reading in the textbook]; chance emphasizes accidental occurrence without prearrangement or planning [a chance encounter]
OPPOSITE: deliberate
Derived forms
randomly (ˈrandomly)
adverb
randomness (ˈrandomness)
noun
Word origin
ME randoun < OFr randon, violence, speed (in a randon, violently) < randir, to run violently < Frank *rant, a running, akin to OHG rinnan, to run
Examples of 'random' in a sentence
random
Each successive year a similar random but representative sample of pupils will sit parts of the same two tests.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was an entirely random and shocking attack on a group of friends simply trying to enjoy a night out.
The Sun (2016)
A source said random drug tests were introduced earlier this year to catch cheats.
The Sun (2016)
For me, I took some comfort in knowing that it was a random attack.
The Sun (2016)
Viewers were misled because the competition claimed to be based on random selection.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They worry about random acts of violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They doubt that random drug tests would work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Try to get a random sample of people.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
Was she trying to protect herself from a random attack of box jellyfish?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The first correct entry drawn at random will win.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some of the selections seem random and others easily dropped.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
This is a bit of a random selection because you can make ice cream from virtually anything.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some know they were not the passive victims of random violence but active participants.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The technique involved polling a random representative sample on targeted issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Police say the attack was not random.
The Sun (2013)
It seemed random and it nearly was.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They bought the ticket at the store using a random selection button.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Or been a victim of random street violence?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But checks on a random sample showed many people are still at the same address.
The Sun (2008)
The appointment of junior ministers is utterly random and often bears little or no relation to their expertise.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Being a nation means we are not just a random set of individuals born to a different random setof individuals.
The Sun (2016)
And probably they had; but numbers were so large that the computer made a random cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The onset is often sudden, random and frequently recurrent.
The Sun (2014)
Instead, she says she is often moved by random acts of kindness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Others perform regular random sampling of employees' e-mails.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
random
British English: random /ˈrændəm/ ADJECTIVE
A random sample or method is one in which all the people or things involved have an equal chance of being chosen.
The survey used a random sample of two thousand people.
American English: random
Arabic: عَشْوَائِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: aleatório
Chinese: 任意的
Croatian: nasumičan
Czech: náhodný
Danish: tilfældig
Dutch: willekeurig
European Spanish: al azar
Finnish: umpimähkäinen
French: aléatoire
German: willkürlich
Greek: τυχαίος
Italian: casuale
Japanese: 手当たり次第の
Korean: 무작위의
Norwegian: tilfeldig
Polish: przypadkowy losowy
European Portuguese: aleatório
Romanian: aleatoriu
Russian: случайный
Latin American Spanish: al azar
Swedish: slumpartad
Thai: โดยการสุ่ม
Turkish: rastgele
Ukrainian: випадковий
Vietnamese: ngẫu nhiên
All related terms of 'random'
at random
If you choose people or things at random , you do not use any particular method , so they all have an equal chance of being chosen.
random walk
a mathematical model used to describe physical processes, such as diffusion , in which a particle moves in straight-line steps of constant length but random direction
random access
designating or of a volatile memory that allows data to be accessed directly and does not require following a sequence of storage locations
random attack
To attack a person or place means to try to hurt or damage them using physical violence .
random error
an error that has a random distribution and can be attributed to chance
random number
any of a sequence of random numbers
random rubble
masonry in which untooled stones are set without coursing
random sample
a statistical sample that is devised to avoid interference so that its distribution is affected only by, and so can be held to represent, that of the whole population
random numbers
a sequence of numbers that do not form any progression , used to facilitate unbiased sampling of a population . A random-number generator is part of the software of most computers and many calculators
random sampling
a method of selecting a sample ( random sample ) from a statistical population in such a way that every possible sample that could be selected has a predetermined probability of being selected
random stranger
A stranger is someone you have never met before.
random variable
a quantity that may take any of a range of values, either continuous or discrete , which cannot be predicted with certainty but only described probabilistically
random violence
Violence is behaviour which is intended to hurt , injure , or kill people.
random selection
Selection is the act of selecting one or more people or things from a group.
random vibration
Random vibration is a type of forced vibration in which the motion follows no regular pattern .
random walk theory
the theory that the future movement of share prices does not reflect past movements and therefore will not follow a discernible pattern
random access memory
random access memory : semiconductor memory in which all storage locations can be rapidly accessed in the same amount of time. It forms the main memory of a computer, used by applications to perform tasks while the device is operating
random number generator
a piece of computer software used to create a sequence of random numbers
rv
An RV is a van which is equipped with such things as beds and cooking equipment , so that people can live in it, usually while they are on holiday . RV is an abbreviation for 'recreational vehicle'.
direct access
a method of reading data from a computer file without reading through the file from the beginning as on a disk or drum
Chinese translation of 'random'
random
(ˈrændəm)
adj
[arrangement, selection]随(隨)机(機)的 (suíjī de)
(= haphazard) 任意的 (rènyì de)
n
at random随(隨)意 (suíyì)
1 (adjective)
Definition
lacking any definite plan or prearranged order
The order of events seemed totally random.
Synonyms
chance
He describes their chance meeting as intense.
spot
casual
It was just a casual meeting.
stray
He was struck in the face by a stray boot.
accidental
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
arbitrary
incidental
indiscriminate
haphazard
She was trying to connect her life's seemingly haphazard events.
unplanned
fortuitous
a fortuitous quirk of fate
aimless
desultory
We made some desultory conversation while we waited for the bus.
hit or miss
purposeless
unpremeditated
adventitious
Opposites
planned
,
intended
,
specific
, deliberate,
definite
,
premeditated
2 (adjective)
Definition
lacking any definite plan or prearranged order
random acts of violence across the city
Synonyms
casual
arbitrary
Arbitrary arrests were common.
indiscriminate
the indiscriminate arrests during the protests
unplanned
aimless
After several hours of aimless driving they were getting low on fuel.
purposeless
Time may be wasted in purposeless meetings.
unpremeditated
phrase
See at random
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accidental
Definition
occurring by chance or unintentionally
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Synonyms
unintentional,
unexpected,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unintended,
unplanned,
unpremeditated
in the sense of aimless
Definition
having no purpose or direction
After several hours of aimless driving they were getting low on fuel.
Synonyms
purposeless,
random,
stray,
pointless,
erratic,
wayward,
frivolous,
chance,
goalless,
haphazard,
vagrant,
directionless,
unguided,
undirected
in the sense of arbitrary
Definition
not done according to any plan or for any particular reason
Arbitrary arrests were common.
Synonyms
random,
chance,
optional,
subjective,
unreasonable,
inconsistent,
erratic,
discretionary,
personal,
fanciful,
wilful,
whimsical,
capricious
Synonyms of 'random'
random
Explore 'random' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of desultory
Definition
occurring in a random way
We made some desultory conversation while we waited for the bus.
Synonyms
random,
vague,
irregular,
loose,
rambling,
inconsistent,
erratic,
disconnected,
haphazard,
cursory,
aimless,
off and on,
fitful,
spasmodic,
discursive,
unsystematic,
inconstant,
maundering,
unmethodical
in the sense of fortuitous
Definition
happening by chance, esp. by a lucky chance
a fortuitous quirk of fate
Synonyms
chance,
lucky,
random,
casual,
contingent,
accidental,
arbitrary,
incidental,
unforeseen,
unplanned
in the sense of haphazard
Definition
not organized or planned
She was trying to connect her life's seemingly haphazard events.
Synonyms
random,
chance,
accidental,
arbitrary,
fluky (informal)
in the sense of indiscriminate
Definition
lacking discrimination or careful choice
the indiscriminate arrests during the protests
Synonyms
random,
general,
wholesale,
mixed,
sweeping,
confused,
chaotic,
careless,
mingled,
jumbled,
miscellaneous,
promiscuous,
motley,
haphazard,
uncritical,
aimless,
desultory,
hit or miss (informal),
higgledy-piggledy (informal),
undiscriminating,
unsystematic,
unselective,
undistinguishable,
unmethodical,
scattershot
in the sense of purposeless
Time may be wasted in purposeless meetings.
Synonyms
pointless,
empty,
unnecessary,
useless,
needless,
senseless,
goalless,
wanton,
vacuous,
aimless,
uncalled-for,
motiveless,
otiose,
wanky (taboo, slang),
without rhyme or reason
in the sense of stray
Definition
random or separated from the main group of things of their kind