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

“We have more disposable income here,” said Buckley, 31.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Does a family need a significant disposable income to start in motor racing?

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

“Relative to the size of the economy and to the size of household disposable income, household debt is at quarter-century lows,” writes Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist for Santander.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

That figure could rise further by the end of the year, when households are projected to spend 4.3% more of their disposable income on energy costs than the year before, the agency’s analysts said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

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

From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi