What does arbitrable mean?
Arbitrable is a formal adjective used mainly in legal and labor-relations contexts to describe a dispute, claim, or question that is capable of being settled by arbitration — that is, by an impartial third party acting as arbiter, rather than through litigation in court or direct negotiation between the parties. When lawyers ask whether a disagreement is arbitrable, they are asking whether it falls within the scope of an arbitration agreement or whether arbitration is an appropriate mechanism for resolving it at all. The question matters practically: many contracts and collective bargaining agreements cover only arbitrable issues, so determining arbitrability is often the first step before any arbitration proceeds. The word derives from the same Latin root as arbiter and arbitrate, and it carries a neutral, procedural connotation — it signals suitability for third-party resolution rather than implying anything about the merits of the dispute itself.
adjectiveCapable of being settled or decided by arbitration — that is, by an impartial third party rather than through litigation or direct negotiation.
- Of a dispute, question, or matter: suitable or eligible to be settled by arbitration rather than by court proceedings.
"The contract's arbitration clause covered only disputes the parties agreed were arbitrable."
"The panel determined that the wage disagreement was arbitrable under the collective bargaining agreement."
"Courts often must first decide whether a claim is arbitrable before referring it to an arbitration body."
Whether a dispute is 'arbitrable' can literally decide whether it gets settled in weeks by an arbitrator or dragged through years of litigation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arbitrable
Arbitrable comes from the Latin root arbiter, meaning one who judges or decides, via the verb arbitrate and its derivational suffix -able, which marks capability. It entered English usage in legal contexts alongside the broader vocabulary of arbitration, sharing its origin with related words such as arbiter, arbitration, and arbitrator. The term developed specifically to describe disputes suited to resolution by such a judge-like third party.
How arbitrable is actually used
A formal legal term used chiefly in arbitration law and labor relations. It typically appears in phrases like 'arbitrable dispute' or in discussions of whether a given claim falls within the scope of an arbitration agreement.
Easily confused with arbitrable
Arbitrary describes something based on random choice or personal whim, whereas arbitrable describes something that can legitimately be resolved through arbitration.