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
Synonyms
- elective
- optional
- voluntary
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year
Recent Examples on the Web That carve-out has helped San Diego receive state construction funds despite two state laws — SB 922 and SB 829 — that make cities with laws prohibiting PLAs ineligible for discretionary state construction funds. 
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 The discretionary funds will come from appropriations during New Mexico's 2023 legislative session which will open Jan. 17. Algernon D'ammassa, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2022 That’s because $16 billion would be within the 1 percent ceiling on total discretionary funds set aside for earmarks across the dozen bills. Peter Cohn, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Aug. 2022 Each district is receiving a total of $6 million in discretionary funds. Lucas Daprile, cleveland, 12 May 2022 Under a new estimate released Thursday, the state may have close to $70 billion by next summer in unallocated, discretionary funds — and that’s after setting aside revenues earmarked for public schools and the state’s main cash reserve. John Myers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2022 Those terms include cutting the amount that borrowers have to pay each month in half -- from 10% to 5% of discretionary income -- as well as covering borrowers' unpaid monthly interest, among other efforts. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2022 And in a bid to prevent struggling borrowers from being crushed by large payments, the Education Department is proposing a new rule that would allow those with loans to cap monthly payments at 5% of their discretionary income. Arit John, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 And in a bid to prevent struggling borrowers from being crushed by large payments, the Education Department is proposing a new rule that would allow those with loans to cap monthly payments at 5% of their discretionary income. Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 See More
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 The discretionary funds will come from appropriations during New Mexico's 2023 legislative session which will open Jan. 17. Algernon D'ammassa, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2022 That’s because $16 billion would be within the 1 percent ceiling on total discretionary funds set aside for earmarks across the dozen bills. Peter Cohn, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Aug. 2022 Each district is receiving a total of $6 million in discretionary funds. Lucas Daprile, cleveland, 12 May 2022 Under a new estimate released Thursday, the state may have close to $70 billion by next summer in unallocated, discretionary funds — and that’s after setting aside revenues earmarked for public schools and the state’s main cash reserve. John Myers, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2022 Those terms include cutting the amount that borrowers have to pay each month in half -- from 10% to 5% of discretionary income -- as well as covering borrowers' unpaid monthly interest, among other efforts. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2022 And in a bid to prevent struggling borrowers from being crushed by large payments, the Education Department is proposing a new rule that would allow those with loans to cap monthly payments at 5% of their discretionary income. Arit John, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 And in a bid to prevent struggling borrowers from being crushed by large payments, the Education Department is proposing a new rule that would allow those with loans to cap monthly payments at 5% of their discretionary income. Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
discretion + -ary entry 2
First Known Use
1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing discretionary
Legal 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.
discretionary
adjective
as in optional
subject to one's freedom of choice discretionary spending on luxuries dropped dramatically last year Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- optional
- voluntary
- elective
- unnecessary
- alternative
- chosen
- dispensable
- unwanted
- unneeded
- alternate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mandatory
- compulsory
- obligatory
- nonvoluntary
- required
- necessary
- nonelective
- essential
- indispensable
- requisite