Definition of ARBITER

arbiter

Plural: arbiters

Noun

  • A person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority.
  • someone with the power to settle matters at will
    • "she was the final arbiter on all matters of fashion"
  • someone chosen to judge and decide a disputed issue
    • "the critic was considered to be an arbiter of modern literature"
  • A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a controversy between them; an arbitrator.
  • A person or object having the power of judging, determining, or ordaining; one whose power of deciding and governing is not limited.
  • A component in circuitry that allocates scarce resources.

Verb

  • To act as an arbiter.

Examples

  • Television and film, not Vogue and similar magazines, are the arbiters of fashion.
  • The official dictionary is the final arbiter of what constitutes a valid word.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English arbiter, arbytour, arbitre, from Old French arbitre, from Latin arbiter (“a witness, judge, literally one who goes to see”).

Synonyms

arbitrator, supreme authority, umpire

Scrabble Score: 9

arbiter: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
arbiter: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
arbiter: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

arbiter: valid Words With Friends Word