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Arbitrary vs Summary - What's the difference?

arbitrary | summary | Synonyms |

Arbitrary is a synonym of summary.


As adjectives the difference between arbitrary and summary

is that arbitrary is (usually|of a decision) based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random while summary is concise, brief or presented in a condensed form.

As nouns the difference between arbitrary and summary

is that arbitrary is anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee while summary is an abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material.

arbitrary

English

Adjective

(arbitrariness) (en adjective)
  • (usually, of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.
    • Benjamin Franklin's designation of "positive" and "negative" to different charges was arbitrary . In fact, electrons flow in the opposite direction to conventional current.
    The decision to use 18 years as the legal age of adulthood was arbitrary , as both age 17 and 19 were reasonable alternatives.
  • Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
    • "The Russian trials were Stalin's purges, with which he attempted to consolidate his power. Like most people in the West, I believed these show trials to be the arbitrary acts of a cruel dictator." ( Max Born, Letters to Einstein)
  • (mathematics) Any and all possible.
    • The equation is true for an arbitrary value of x.
  • Determined by independent arbiter.
    • To secure food safety, there should first be a national standard to arbitrarily state what is wholesome and what is not; second, the final buyer should know exactly what he is purchasing. ( The World's Work ...: a history of our time)

    Related terms

    * arbit * arbiter * arbitrable * arbitrage * arbitrarily * arbitrariness * arbitrary and capricious * arbitrate * arbitration * arbitrator

    Noun

    (arbitraries)
  • Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.

    • External links

    * *

    summary

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Concise, brief or presented in a condensed form
    • A summary review is in the appendix.
  • Performed speedily and without formal ceremony.
    • They used summary executions to break the resistance of the people.
  • (legal) Performed by cutting the procedures of a standard and fair trial.
    • Summary justice is bad justice.

    Noun

    (wikipedia summary) (summaries)
  • An abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material.

    • Synonyms

    * upshot, bottom line, short form (slang)

    Derived terms

    * executive summary * management summary