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Added 4 October 2026

random

/ˈɹændəm/ noun

In Latin: fortuītus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about random at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A roving motion; course without definite direction; lack of rule or method; chance.
Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range.

adjective

Occurring for no particular reason; haphazard, unpredictable.
Our city is plagued by random acts of violence.
Involving an outcome which is impossible to predict, but which may be represented by a probability distribution; in the ideal case, involving outcomes which are equally likely.
The flip of a fair coin is purely random.
Pseudorandom; mimicking the result of random selection.
The rand function generates a random number from a seed.

verb

To wander; to stray; to meander.

Origin

From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-Germanic *randijō, from *rinnaną (“run”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)r̥-nw- (“to flow, move, run”). Cognate with Middle Low German uprinden (“to jump up”), Danish rende (“to run”). See run.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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