An arbitrator is someone chosen to settle a disagreement between two parties who can't agree on their own. Think of it this way: when two students argue about whether a ball went out of bounds during recess and they ask a teacher to decide, that teacher is acting as an arbitrator.

The word comes from situations where people need a neutral person to make a final decision. In professional sports, when players and team owners disagree about contracts or rules, they might hire an arbitrator to listen to both sides and make a binding decision. In business, when companies have disputes, they often choose arbitration instead of going to court because it's faster and less expensive.

What makes an arbitrator different from a regular judge is that both sides agree ahead of time to accept whatever the arbitrator decides. The arbitrator listens carefully to each side's arguments and evidence, then makes a decision that both parties must follow. Good arbitrators are known for being fair, knowledgeable about the subject, and skilled at understanding complex disagreements.

The process of using an arbitrator is called arbitration. You might hear someone say “let's take this to arbitration” when two parties are stuck in a dispute and need someone impartial to resolve it.