ˈärbə]d.ər, ˈȧbə]d.ə, ]tə(r) sometimes ÷ -ˌbī] noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English arbitre, arbitour, from Middle French arbitre, from Latin arbiter (akin to Umbrian ařputrati according to judgment), perhaps from ad- + -biter (from baetere to go)
1. : a person having the authority to decide a matter in dispute : judge ; especially : one chosen by parties or appointed in their behalf by a court to determine a controversy between them
whenever a political body controls arbitration machinery, appoints arbiters, and enforces rulings — Christian Science Monitor
2. : a person or agency having absolute power of judging, determining, or ruling or one whose decisions are accepted as final
she … became the supreme arbiter of skating fashions — Maribel Y. Vinson
the market, overseas and at home, will be the final arbiter — Economist