discretionary
adjective
dis·cre·tion·ary
di-ˈskre-shə-ˌner-ē 
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
Individuals who need help controlling discretionary spending.
—
Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Many businesses and consumers will cut discretionary spending during hard times, so position yourself accordingly.
6.
—Sam Dogen, Contributor, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
That spending plan would have left the state with a modest $363 million discretionary surplus, ending a two-year streak in which state lawmakers needed to plug significant spending shortfalls.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
Sierra’s discretionary acts into a violation of a constitutional nature.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
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Andrew Rosen, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Many businesses and consumers will cut discretionary spending during hard times, so position yourself accordingly.
6.
—Sam Dogen, Contributor, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
That spending plan would have left the state with a modest $363 million discretionary surplus, ending a two-year streak in which state lawmakers needed to plug significant spending shortfalls.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025
Sierra’s discretionary acts into a violation of a constitutional nature.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discretionary. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
discretionary
adjective
dis·cre·tion·ary
dis-ˈkre-shə-ˌner-ē
: 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.
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