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

“The reality is that the disposable income of the majority of luxury consumers is under pressure,” Berenberg analysts wrote in a recent note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Because spending is growing faster than disposable income, it might stall as people face the limits of what they have in savings or want to borrow, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Over time, bonuses and raises add up, and the trick is to avoid lifestyle creep as your disposable income increases, Grant said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

On both sides of the border, tariffs have hit jobs and disposable income.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

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

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi