random

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ran|dom /r'ændəm/
1 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A random sample or method is one in which all the people or things involved have an equal chance of being chosen.
The survey used a random sample of two thousand people across England and Wales...
The competitors will be subject to random drug testing.
● randomly [ADV] ADV with v
...interviews with a randomly selected sample of thirty girls aged between 13 and 18.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
If you describe events as random, you mean that they do not seem to follow a definite plan or pattern.
...random violence against innocent victims...
● randomly [ADV] ADV with v
...drinks and magazines left scattered randomly around.
3 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you choose people or things at random, you do not use any particular method, so they all have an equal chance of being chosen.
We received several answers, and we picked one at random.
4 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If something happens at random, it happens without a definite plan or pattern.
Three black people were killed by shots fired at random from a minibus.

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