discretionary

adjective dis·cre·tion·ary \ -ˈkre-shə-ˌner-ē \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: discretionary in a Sentence

Definition of discretionary

1 : left to individual choice or judgment : exercised at one's own discretion

discretionary powers

2 : available for discretionary use

discretionary income

See discretionary defined for English-language learners

Examples of discretionary in a Sentence

discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year

Recent Examples of discretionary from the Web

New York City’s Welfare Rights Organization, for example, managed to reduce caseworkers’ discretionary power to cut recipients off, and won money for families to buy winter jackets, Easter clothes, and beds.

— livia gershon, Longreads, "The Prosperity Plea," 30 May 2018
Stryker also has made a discretionary contribution for non-sales rep employees to the plan for the past 28 years for employees who work a minimum of 1,000 hours and are employed on the last day of the previous year.

— susan tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Job hunters need to ask potential employers about this job perk," 16 May 2018
Fortnite, for anyone not a teen-ager or a parent or educator of teens, is the third-person shooter game that has taken over the hearts and minds—and the time, both discretionary and otherwise—of adolescent and collegiate America.

— nick paumgarten, The New Yorker, "How Fortnite Captured Teens’ Hearts and Minds," 14 May 2018
There’s room for discretionary calories, to have something pleasurable like ice cream or cake.

— hattie bernstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Teaching young kids how to junk bad eating habits," 11 May 2018
In Tuesday’s vote, Republicans are targeting a 2013 analysis issued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that warned auto lenders against making discretionary markups when financing loans for auto buyers.

— USA TODAY, "House poised to nix anti-discrimination rule as part of broader push to unravel Obama regulations," 8 May 2018
The combined information will guide the foundation's quarterly discretionary grantmaking to become more proactive.

— jennifer conn, akron reporter, cleveland.com, "On the Table Greater Akron reveals local economy, social disparities and drug epidemic top of mind in Summit County (video)," 3 May 2018
Since then, some lenders eliminated discretionary dealer markups, while Republicans and the auto industry lashed out at the bureau's guidance.

— washington post, latimes.com, "Senate poised to kill CFPB effort to prevent racial discrimination in auto loan market," 17 Apr. 2018
He and White want election referendums held on issuing bonds when the city proposes costly discretionary projects like the river trail and new sports complex, rather than the council voting to issue certificates of obligation, as occurred.

— zeke maccormack, San Antonio Express-News, "Retired pastor making his first foray into politics against incumbent mayor in Kerrville," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discretionary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of discretionary

see discreet

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1698

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

discretionary Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

DISCRETIONARY Defined for English Language Learners

discretionary

adjective

Definition of discretionary for English Language Learners

: available to be used when and how you decide
: done or used when necessary

Law Dictionary

discretionary

adjective dis·cre·tion·ary \ dis-ˈkre-shə-ˌner-ē \

legal Definition of discretionary

: 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.