randomness
noun
ran·dom·ness
ˈran-dəm-nəs
: the quality or state of being or seeming random (as in lacking or seeming to lack a definite plan, purpose, or pattern)
Many Western artists and writers have been inspired by the I Ching. … The composer John Cage used it as a way to generate randomness and chance in his compositions, giving them their distinctive and often remarkable qualities.—Heinz Insu Fenkl
… the metaphor of a coin flip for randomness remains unquestioned. We use coin tosses to settle disputes and decide outcomes because we believe they are unbiased, with 50-50 odds. Yet recent research into coin flips has discovered that the laws of mechanics determine the outcome of coin tosses …—David E. Adler
the randomness of life
Cite this Entry
“Randomness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/randomness. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.
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