discretionary

[dih-skresh-uh-ner-ee]

adjective

1. subject or left to one's own discretion.

2. for any use or purpose one chooses; not earmarked for a particular purpose.

   discretionary income; a discretionary fund.

discretionary

/ -ənrɪ, dɪˈskrɛʃənərɪ /

adjective

1. having or using the ability to decide at one's own discretion

   discretionary powers

Other Word Forms

• discretionarily adverb
• nondiscretionary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discretionary¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; discretion + -ary

Example Sentences

Tech is taking a back seat to sectors such as healthcare, materials, and consumer discretionary.

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Yet “most expenses related to housing are fixed or nonnegotiable, including mortgage payments, water & sewer charges, insurance, fuel, and electricity, leaving maintenance as the largest single category of discretionary operating costs.”

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But he’s ruled out dollarization and instead runs an opaque and discretionary monetary regime.

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Surveys also suggest discretionary spending may fall in step with income brackets.

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Consumer spending weakened nationally, with declines in retail and discretionary categories, though high-end retail remained resilient.

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Related Words

• unrestricted