arbiter
arbiter Lexical Profile
arbiter Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person or institution empowered to settle a dispute or having ultimate authority in a matter.
"The Supreme Court serves as the final arbiter of constitutional law in the country."
A person whose views, opinions, or actions have great influence over social trends, style, or standards of taste.
"For decades, the magazine editor was regarded as the chief arbiter of high fashion in Paris."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'arbiter' and 'arbitrator' both refer to someone who resolves disputes, 'arbitrator' is specifically used in formal legal and commercial contexts for an officially appointed mediator, whereas 'arbiter' is broader and often refers to someone holding supreme authority in matters of taste, morality, or opinion.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late Middle English period from Old French or directly from Latin 'arbiter', meaning 'witness, spectator, or judge', formed from 'ad-' (to) and 'baetere' (to come or go).