The word arbitrate plays an important role in both legal and everyday language, especially when it comes to conflict resolution. It refers to the act of settling disputes or making decisions between two or more opposing sides through the help of a neutral third party. Understanding how to use the word arbitrate in a sentence can help strengthen communication in professional, academic, and personal contexts. This topic explores its definition, grammar usage, real-world application, and examples that show how the word fits into everyday English sentences.
Definition and Meaning of Arbitrate
Arbitrate is a verb that means to act as an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute. It’s commonly used in legal, business, and interpersonal settings. The goal of arbitration is usually to avoid lengthy or expensive legal battles by having an unbiased person make a fair decision.
Basic definition: To settle or decide a disagreement between two parties using a third-party mediator or arbitrator.
Part of Speech
Arbitrate is a regular verb. Its base form is arbitrate, the past tense is arbitrated, and the present participle is arbitrating.
Synonyms of Arbitrate
- Mediation
- Resolve
- Settle
- Negotiate
- Adjudicate
How to Use ‘Arbitrate’ in a Sentence
To use the word correctly, place it in a sentence where a conflict or dispute exists, and someone is called in to help resolve it. Below are examples to demonstrate different sentence structures and uses.
Simple Sentences Using Arbitrate
- The teacher was asked to arbitrate the disagreement between two students.
- We need someone neutral to arbitrate the contract negotiations.
- He agreed to arbitrate the dispute without taking sides.
These simple sentences show direct usage of the verb, with a clear subject performing the action of arbitration.
Complex Sentences Using Arbitrate
- Although the employees were upset, they agreed to let the company’s HR department arbitrate the issue.
- Since both business partners couldn’t reach an agreement, a professional was hired to arbitrate the conflict.
- If the situation gets worse, we might need a third party to arbitrate the matter.
In more advanced sentence structures, arbitrate often appears in conditional or subordinate clauses, giving more context to the dispute being resolved.
Past Tense Sentences Using Arbitrated
- The court arbitrated the matter quickly and fairly.
- She arbitrated many labor union cases throughout her career.
- They arbitrated the disagreement before it escalated into a legal battle.
Using the past tense form arbitrated indicates that the arbitration has already occurred, providing context for completed actions.
Present Continuous Tense Sentences Using Arbitrating
- He is currently arbitrating a complex commercial case involving two major firms.
- The judge is arbitrating disputes from last week’s protest incident.
- Our legal department is arbitrating several ongoing contract issues.
This verb form fits situations where arbitration is currently in progress or ongoing.
When and Why We Use the Word Arbitrate
The word arbitrate is used when two parties are in disagreement and cannot find a solution on their own. It typically applies in situations where fairness, neutrality, and final resolution are needed. Here are some common settings where the word is used:
Legal Context
Arbitration is a formal process used to settle disputes outside the courtroom. When a judge or lawyer arbitrates, their decision can sometimes be legally binding. For example:
- The court appointed an independent expert to arbitrate the property dispute.
Workplace and Human Resources
Disagreements in the workplace over contracts, harassment claims, or salary disputes often require someone to arbitrate and keep the environment fair.
- The HR manager was trained to arbitrate sensitive workplace issues.
Family or Relationship Mediation
In personal relationships or family dynamics, arbitration can be informal but still essential in resolving tension.
- She had to arbitrate a long-standing dispute between her two brothers.
Business and Commercial Contracts
Business disputes over partnerships, client agreements, or vendor relationships often end in arbitration to avoid costly litigation.
- An international panel was asked to arbitrate the contract terms between the two corporations.
Grammatical Patterns for Using Arbitrate
Understanding how to structure sentences with arbitrate improves clarity and fluency. Here are some typical grammar patterns:
Subject + arbitrate + object
- She arbitrated the discussion fairly.
Subject + be + arbitrating + object
- The committee is arbitrating several student grievances.
Subject + will + arbitrate + object
- The lawyer will arbitrate the disagreement tomorrow.
Using to arbitrate as an infinitive
- They appointed him to arbitrate the issue.
Tips for Using Arbitrate Effectively
- Use arbitrate in formal or semi-formal contexts.
- Make sure the subject of the sentence is someone who has authority or neutrality.
- Use it to indicate conflict resolution, not general communication.
For instance, don’t say She arbitrated her opinion at the meeting. Instead, say She arbitrated the disagreement between team members.
Difference Between Arbitrate and Mediate
Though similar, arbitrate and mediate are not exactly the same:
- Arbitrateusually implies a decision will be made by the arbitrator, which may be binding.
- Mediateinvolves helping the parties reach a decision on their own without imposing one.
So, if someone helps two people talk things through without making the final decision, they are mediating. If they decide the outcome for them, they are arbitrating.
The word arbitrate is a versatile and valuable verb that relates to resolving conflict, making fair decisions, and maintaining order in both formal and informal settings. Whether used in legal, workplace, or personal situations, it communicates the idea of someone stepping in to help opposing parties find resolution. By learning how to use arbitrate in a sentence across different tenses, structures, and scenarios you improve your vocabulary and your ability to express complex ideas clearly and effectively. Understanding this word also promotes better communication in moments of disagreement, helping to encourage peaceful solutions.