discretionary

adjective

dis·​cre·​tion·​ary di-ˈskre-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce discretionary (audio)
1
: left to individual choice or judgment : exercised at one's own discretion
discretionary powers
2
: available for discretionary use
discretionary income

Examples of discretionary in a Sentence

discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Homeowners are increasingly forced to cut back on discretionary spending or dip into savings just to keep up with the costs of staying put. Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 That a majority of this court now rewards the government for its behavior with discretionary equitable relief is indefensible. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2025 Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, told NPR last week that consumer confidence and discretionary spending were already on the decline. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025 In early 2025, Southern California wildfires and winter storm Blair worsened discretionary spending declines from a 1 percent 2024 average to 4 percent for that week. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for discretionary

Word History

Etymology

discretion + -ary entry 2

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of discretionary was in 1698

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discretionary. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

discretionary

adjective
dis·​cre·​tion·​ary dis-ˈkre-shə-ˌner-ē How to pronounce discretionary (audio)
: left to discretion : exercised at one's own discretion
specifically : relating to the policy-making function of a public official see also Federal Tort Claims Act compare ministerial

Note: A public official generally has qualified immunity from lawsuits that arise from his or her discretionary acts.

More from Merriam-Webster on discretionary

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