discretionary

[ dih-skresh-uh-ner-ee ]

adjective

1. subject or left to one's own discretion.
2. for any use or purpose one chooses; not earmarked for a particular purpose:

   discretionary income; a discretionary fund.

discretionary

/ -ənrɪ; dɪˈskrɛʃənərɪ /

adjective

1. having or using the ability to decide at one's own discretion

   discretionary powers

Derived Forms

• disˈcretionarily, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·cretion·ari·ly adverb
• nondis·cretion·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discretionary¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; discretion + -ary

Example Sentences

Altogether, discretionary spending accounted for around 25% of the total in the 2023 financial year according to the Congressional Budget Office, with more than half of that going to defence.

From BBC

Yet if all of the $2 trillion in US government expenditure savings now being targeted by Musk were to come from discretionary spending, analysts calculate that entire agencies - from transport, to agriculture, to Homeland Security - would have to be entirely closed down.

From BBC

Discretionary spending accounted for only $1.7 trillion in 2023.

From BBC

In theory, discretionary spending would be easier for the incoming Trump administration to cut than mandatory spending.

From BBC

After taking control of the House of Representatives in 2022, Republican lawmakers have struggled to pass legislation to deliver considerably smaller cuts of $130bn in discretionary government spending after meeting opposition from other Republicans.

From BBC

Related Words

• unrestricted