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

Higher energy and transport costs as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are pushing up consumer prices, dealing a blow to disposable income and corporate profits. —Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, semafor.com, 19 May 2026

Now grown-up with disposable income, the original Swatch collector now arrives with spending power, resale fluency and a clear sense that owning the object is only half the reward. —Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

No square on the calendar is truly protected once the NFL detects people with time off, disposable income and access to nachos. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026

While federal limits prevent creditors from taking everything, even a 10% to 25% reduction in disposable income can have a ripple effect across your finances. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026

Rhymes for disposable income

• abomasum
• become
• checksum
• humdrum
• outcome
• pisum
• succumb
• therefrom
• wherefrom
• bum
• chum
• come

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