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
Rodríguez did not specify how much of the $240 corresponds to base salary — which determines pensions, severance and other labor benefits — and how much comes from discretionary bonuses that do not count toward long-term compensation.
—
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Providing Medi-Cal to undocumented immigrants is just one piece of about $12 billion in discretionary spending state policymakers have added since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published by the Legislative Analyst’s Office this week.
—Andrew Graham
april 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
It cannot be used for discretionary spending.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Target is starting to look like a recovery story just as the macro backdrop may be turning more favorable for the consumer discretionary sector.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
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Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Providing Medi-Cal to undocumented immigrants is just one piece of about $12 billion in discretionary spending state policymakers have added since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published by the Legislative Analyst’s Office this week.
—Andrew Graham
april 29, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
It cannot be used for discretionary spending.
—Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Target is starting to look like a recovery story just as the macro backdrop may be turning more favorable for the consumer discretionary sector.
—Tony Zhang, CNBC, 22 Apr. 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 6 May. 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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