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Meaning of discretionary in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /dəˈskrɛʃəˌnɛri/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    discretionary

    Definitions

    1. having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment

    Examples

    • « The commission has discretionary power to award extra funds »

    Synonyms

    • arbitrary
  2. 2. (especially of funds) not earmarked

    Examples

    • « available for use as needed »
    • « discretionary funds »
    • « discretionary income »

    Synonyms

    • unrestricted

Famous quotes

  • « If you or me go to the gas station to fill up our car and it costs us much more than we expected, it will zap our discretionary income. We won't have the extra money to buy that washing machine or new winter coat-all big ticket items that are important to economic growth. »
    Maria Bartiromo
  • « Family entertainment is really very necessary in our culture. Look how profitable they are. It's almost not discretionary. You need to take your family to the movies. »
    Gary Ross
  • « Domestic discretionary spending on education and health care and the environment has been growing at 2 to 3 percent a year. He says we have to rein it in, but he ignores the spending category that is the big spike in the budget. »
    John Spratt

Browse dictionary

  • discretional
  • discretion
  • discreteness
  • discrete
  • discretionary
  • discretionary trust
  • discriminable
  • discriminate
  • discriminating
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