Meaning
Arbitrate means to act as a judge or mediator in a dispute and make an official decision to settle it. It refers to resolving a disagreement between two or more parties outside of a court, often through an impartial third party (an arbitrator).
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Verb
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Transitivity: Transitive and intransitive
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Common structures:
- arbitrate between A and B — to mediate or decide between two parties
- arbitrate in a dispute/conflict — to take part as an arbitrator
- be arbitrated by someone — passive voice form
Examples of patterns:
- They asked an independent committee to arbitrate between the two companies.
- The matter was arbitrated by an international tribunal.
Common Phrases
- arbitrate a dispute
- arbitrate between two sides
- arbitrate fairly/impartially
- arbitrate on behalf of
- arbitrate a case/conflict
Collocations
- verb + arbitrate: help arbitrate, decide to arbitrate, refuse to arbitrate
- noun + arbitrate: committee to arbitrate, panel to arbitrate, board to arbitrate
- adverb + arbitrate: fairly, impartially, neutrally, officially
Examples
- The labor union agreed to let an independent judge arbitrate the salary dispute.
- The World Court was asked to arbitrate in the conflict between the two nations.
- If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, the case will be arbitrated by a neutral third party.
- He was chosen to arbitrate because both sides trusted his fairness.
- The government declined to arbitrate in private commercial matters.
- The disagreement was finally arbitrated and settled peacefully.
- Their contract states that any dispute must be arbitrated rather than taken to court.
- She has experience arbitrating international trade disputes.
Synonyms or Related
mediate, settle, judge, adjudicate, resolve, decide, referee
Antonym
provoke, complicate, disagree, contest, litigate