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
Even a temporary pause on discretionary spending can free up cash to redirect toward existing balances.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The legislation provides $170 billion for ICE, more than double DHS's annual discretionary budget, allowing the agency to continue paying its officers during the shutdown.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Many work in retail and leisure, the very sectors most likely to feel the pinch from a pullback in discretionary consumer spending, which would, in turn, eliminate the jobs those same young people hold.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
Lawyers for the government, meanwhile, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over Estrada Juarez’s case because her petition was filed after she was deported and because her removal was a discretionary decision the government is entitled to.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discretionary
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Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
The legislation provides $170 billion for ICE, more than double DHS's annual discretionary budget, allowing the agency to continue paying its officers during the shutdown.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Many work in retail and leisure, the very sectors most likely to feel the pinch from a pullback in discretionary consumer spending, which would, in turn, eliminate the jobs those same young people hold.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
Lawyers for the government, meanwhile, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over Estrada Juarez’s case because her petition was filed after she was deported and because her removal was a discretionary decision the government is entitled to.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 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 31 Mar. 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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