disposable income

American  

noun

1. the part of a person's income remaining after deducting personal income taxes.

2. (in national income accounting) the total disposable income of all consumers.

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disposable income British  

noun

1. the money a person has available to spend after paying taxes, pension contributions, etc

2. the total amount of money that the individuals in a community, country, etc, have available to buy consumer goods

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Etymology

Origin of disposable income

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disposable income

A reliable indicator of economic health is real disposable income, which tracks how much extra money people actually have after essentials are paid for.

From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026

I got there early, and the place was packed with customers who had a sun-kissed glow that only comes with an abundance of spare time and disposable income.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

But that confusion has not stopped audiences with disposable income from seeking out premium presentations.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

When a larger share of income is committed to fixed costs, even similar disposable income feels more constrained.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

My parents never openly discussed their money struggles, but I knew we didn't have disposable income.

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi