disposable income

noun

: income that is left after paying taxes and for things that are essential, such as food and housing
I don't have enough disposable income to buy such luxuries.

Examples of disposable income in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Tired of spending large portions of already minimal means of disposable income on clothing that doesn’t retain its original shape, color or structure after a few wears, shoppers of today’s turbulent economic climate are hyper-focused on cost-per-wear when purchasing clothing online and in-person. Elizabeth Grace Coyne, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 Postwar prosperity gave more Americans the leisure time, disposable income, and car space to begin antiquing. Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026 For some, disposable income for beef is already dwindling. Kevin Williams, CNBC, 10 June 2026 In many situations, creditors cannot take more than 25% of your disposable income or the amount by which your weekly income exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage, whichever is less. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for disposable income

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Cite this Entry

“Disposable income.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disposable%20income. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

Legal Definition

disposable income

noun
dis·​pos·​able income
: income available for disposal: as
a
: the income remaining to an individual after deduction of taxes
b
: the income of a debtor in bankruptcy that is not necessary to support the debtor or the debtor's dependents
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