randoms

Arbitrary unconnected individuals

Randoms are people you don't know—strangers encountered without introduction or selection.

The word carries slight dismissiveness, implying these people lack connection to you or your group: The party was just us and a bunch of randoms, Some random walked up and started talking to me.

In gaming, randoms are players matched with you by the system rather than chosen teammates.

strangers

unknowns

Undetermined quantities

passersbyPeople going past
outsidersThose not belonging
newcomersThose recently arrived

nobodies · bystanders · onlookers

unpredictability

wildcards

Unpredictable factors or elements

variablesChangeable elements in equations
unknownsUndetermined quantities
surprisesUnanticipated occurrences

flukes · happenstance · arbitrariness · lottery · luck of the draw · crapshoot · coin flip · roll of the dice

variety

assortment

Mixed collection of things

miscellanyAssorted collection of items
hodgepodgeConfused, disorderly mixture
grab bagAssorted collection, unexamined

mixed bag · potpourri · medley · motley · collection · selection · mix · sampling · smattering · array

Opposites

social familiarity

randomsfriends

Voluntary close relations

acquaintances · family · loved ones · close friends · besties

selectedness

randomsinvitees

Those formally asked

chosen ones · selectees · recruits · nominees · appointees

status/importance

randomsVIPs

Notable people, abbreviated

celebrities · notables · somebodies · insiders · elites

Phrases

at randomWithout deliberate selection
random numberValue chosen by chance
random thoughtUnprompted mental occurrence
random mishapUnplanned unfortunate occurrence
random selectionChoosing without systematic bias
random samplePortion selected by chance

Family

random, randomly, randomness, randomized, randomize, nonrandom, randomizing, randomisation, randomizer

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Everyday, not technical · Rated G