What does randomness mean?
Randomness is the quality of happening without a fixed pattern, deliberate arrangement, or reliable prediction. In everyday life it describes the role played by chance, as when the order of names is decided by a draw or when an outcome contains an uncertain element. In mathematics and the sciences, randomness is often studied as a source of variation and can be deliberately modeled through random selection or random number generation. The word is also useful for discussing human judgment: saying that a decision involved randomness may mean that it was arbitrary or governed by chance rather than by consistent rules. Although randomness can imply disorder or lack of control, it can also be a valuable feature of systems designed to test ideas, avoid bias, or produce variety.
nounThe quality or state of being random, especially the absence of a definite pattern, predictability, or deliberate selection. It can refer to the use of chance or an unpredictable element in a process.
- The quality of being random or governed by chance rather than by a predictable pattern.
- The presence or effect of unpredictable or arbitrary elements in a process.
"The experiment introduced an element of randomness to ensure that the results were not determined by the order of the samples."
"The judge acknowledged that some randomness was unavoidable when selecting the order of the finalists."
"Repeated testing can reduce the randomness in the measurements."
Rare; randomness is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"The study compared the randomnesses of two different sampling procedures."
Randomness is the mathematical name for the beautiful uncertainty that makes patterned systems capable of surprising us.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does randomness come from?
Randomness derives from the adjective random, which entered English in the early 16th century in the sense of uncertain or not firmly fixed. The underlying history of random involves Old French random, associated with the expression à Random, understood as “by chance”; the expression in turn developed through uncertain medieval and Old French usage. Modern forms such as randomly, randomize, and randomization were established as the adjective and noun developed, with the senses expanding from chance occurrence to deliberate selection and mathematical treatment of chance.
Related word forms
How randomness is actually used
Randomness is usually uncountable and is commonly used in technical, scientific, and formal contexts. It is generally neutral, though it can suggest carelessness or arbitrariness when used of human decisions.
Easily confused with randomness
Random is an adjective describing something selected or occurring without a definite pattern, whereas randomness names the quality itself.
Chance refers to a favorable or uncertain possibility, while randomness is the broader quality of being unpredictable or governed by chance.