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
By 2036, mandatory outlays such as Social Security and major health care programs such as Medicaid and Medicare will total more than $7 trillion, vying for the majority of the government’s funding before discretionary spending can be allocated.
—
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
While stock-market gains may be boosting spending among wealthier households, there are signs discretionary spending is less robust for lower-income Americans relying primarily on more moderate wage growth.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
In a region where water is neither abundant nor easily replaced, reducing discretionary outdoor use is one of the most effective ways to ensure Aurora can support growth through full buildout as water rights become more costly and scarce.
—Mike Coffman, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The proposal calls on the federal government to immediately suspend the flow of non-essential, non-emergency, discretionary administrative and capital funding to Massachusetts in an attempt to impact the state’s political leadership until the Legislature agrees to open its books.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
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Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
While stock-market gains may be boosting spending among wealthier households, there are signs discretionary spending is less robust for lower-income Americans relying primarily on more moderate wage growth.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
In a region where water is neither abundant nor easily replaced, reducing discretionary outdoor use is one of the most effective ways to ensure Aurora can support growth through full buildout as water rights become more costly and scarce.
—Mike Coffman, Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2026
The proposal calls on the federal government to immediately suspend the flow of non-essential, non-emergency, discretionary administrative and capital funding to Massachusetts in an attempt to impact the state’s political leadership until the Legislature agrees to open its books.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
Cite this Entry
“Discretionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discretionary. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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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