HAPHAZARD

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does haphazard mean? 

• HAPHAZARD (adjective)
  The adjective HAPHAZARD has 2 senses:

1. dependent upon or characterized by chance

2. marked by great carelessness

  Familiarity information: HAPHAZARD used as an adjective is rare.

• HAPHAZARD (adverb)
  The adverb HAPHAZARD has 1 sense:

1. without care; in a slapdash manner

  Familiarity information: HAPHAZARD used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAPHAZARD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dependent upon or characterized by chance

Synonyms:

haphazard; hit-or-miss

Context example:

his judgment is rather hit-or-miss

Similar:

random (lacking any definite plan or order or purpose; governed by or depending on chance)

Derivation:

haphazardness (the quality of lacking any predictable order or plan)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by great carelessness

Synonyms:

haphazard; slapdash; slipshod; sloppy

Context example:

sloppy workmanship

Similar:

careless (marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful)

• HAPHAZARD (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Without care; in a slapdash manner

Synonyms:

haphazard; haphazardly

Context example:

the Prime Minister was wearing a grey suit and a white shirt with a soft collar, but his neck had become thinner and the collar stood away from it as if it had been bought haphazard

Pertainym:

haphazard (marked by great carelessness)

 Context examples 

He has too much real feeling to address any woman on the haphazard of selfish passion.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It is curious—is it not? —that a man should draw up so important a document in so haphazard a fashion.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was as if he had studied at the university himself, instead of being ill-equipped from browsing at haphazard through the books in the library.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It was a careless, unpremeditated glance, one of those haphazard things men do when they have no immediate call to do anything in particular, but act because they are alive and must do something.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Her aunt did not neglect her: she wrote again and again; they were receiving frequent accounts from Edmund, and these accounts were as regularly transmitted to Fanny, in the same diffuse style, and the same medley of trusts, hopes, and fears, all following and producing each other at haphazard.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)