discretionary

American  

[dih-skresh-uh-ner-ee] / dɪˈskrɛʃ əˌnɛr i /

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.

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discretionary British  

/ -ənrɪ, dɪˈskrɛʃənərɪ /

adjective

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

   discretionary powers

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Other Word Forms

• discretionarily adverb
• nondiscretionary adjective

Etymology

Origin of discretionary

First recorded in 1690–1700; discretion + -ary

Example Sentences

Once you account for property taxes, homeowners insurance, Medicare premiums, groceries, utilities, transportation and discretionary spending, you’ll have a clearer picture of whether adding loan payments would meaningfully affect your lifestyle.

From MarketWatch

Consumer staples and discretionary stocks have lagged the broader market over the past year, thanks to tariffs, economic worries, and limited artificial-intelligence buzz.

From Barron's

Uhlaender’s last hope for a discretionary berth is an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

From Los Angeles Times

“This kind of confidence slump tends to slow discretionary spending rather than trigger a full economic downturn.”

From Barron's

Many companies selling discretionary items stand a good chance of seeing a weaker end to the fourth quarter, Sigman predicted.

From Barron's

Related Words

• unrestricted