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
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In Colombia, the majority of survey respondents said their disposable income was enough to live comfortably — 92% compared with 69% globally. Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025 But equity also demands an equal burden, and by that measure, the lottery falls short as it is disproportionately funded by those with the least disposable income. Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Such schools were thought to be the reserve of families who had a good deal of disposable income, or who had kids with special needs receiving financial assistance from the state. Chandler Fritz, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 On top of that, grocery prices have jumped 25% since 2020, while transportation costs ballooned by 66% between 2021 and 2023 alone – according to USDA and Bureau of Labor Statistics data, leaving many locals with little to no disposable income. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disposable income

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Cite this Entry

“Disposable income.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disposable%20income. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

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
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