Word
discretionary
Phoneticsdis·cre·tionary
US/dɪsˈkɹɛʃəˌnɛɹi/
UK/dɪskɹˈɛʃənəɹi/
Definition
adj. available to be used or decided by someone based on what they think is best, rather than being fixed by a rule.
adj. left to individual judgement or choice rather than being dictated by fixed rules or requirements.
Examples
“The manager has a discretionary fund for small office repairs.”
“After paying for rent and groceries, she had very little discretionary income left for hobbies or travel.”
“The judge exercised his discretionary powers to reduce the sentence, citing the defendant's lack of prior convictions and genuine remorse during the trial.”
Examples
simple
“The manager has a discretionary fund for small office repairs.”
contextual
“After paying for rent and groceries, she had very little discretionary income left for hobbies or travel.”
complex
“The judge exercised his discretionary powers to reduce the sentence, citing the defendant's lack of prior convictions and genuine remorse during the trial.”
Usage
Often used to modify nouns related to finance or authority, such as 'income', 'spending', or 'power'.
Real-World Examples
“India's per capita income crossed $2,000 in 2019, a threshold beyond which discretionary spending tends to grow exponentially, according to Redseer, a business consultancy.” “Someone needs to have discretionary income of nearly £100,000 a year to actually save money after covering the £1,200 annual cost of GLP-1 medication, according to an analysis by the consultancy Baringa.” Etymology
From discretion + -ary (“pertaining to”). Compare French discrétionnaire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/discretionary