What would be a good term for a 'randomness generator' if that term is not suitable?

Dice can be used to generate random numbers, and online many random number generators can be found. However, what if you would have a device that creates non-numerical randomness? Think for instance of a large bowl with a great number of cards with single words on them. Each day, you would randomly pick two cards and try to figure out a meaningful relationship between the words. That could perhaps be called a 'random word generator,' or a 'random word connection generator,' but obviously one can introduce randomness in many forms to such a generator. So, what would be the best term to refer to such a generator? I was thinking of 'randomness generator,' but does that make any sense? What suggestions do you have?

Thank you.


Randomizer is commonly used for this sort of device. https://www.random.org/lists/ is one example, but google gives over 200k hits for the term.


Fun question. The problem is, algorithms, programs and systems can be designed to generate specific things AT random, but not to generate randomness itself as an abstract construct. An algorithm that generates numbers at random, such as those used for lotteries, is a random number generator. You can also have random word generators as you mentioned, random scenario generators, and so forth. However, they all generate specific concrete things or categories of things, not randomness itself. The only example of something that comes close to generating randomness is the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy's “Heart of Gold” vessel powered by an Infinity Improbability Drive: it can produce a whale, a pot of petunias, etc. Even then, it’s generating random things, not randomness. That would be like generating chaos or goodwill. It’s a fascinating idea for a sci-fi novel, but I don’t think it would have any real-world applications. As such, I don’t think the word you’re looking for exists.