adj
Uncommon
discretionary
dih-SKREH-shuhn-ree
Discretionary (adj) means Left to someone's own judgement rather than fixed by rules. Example: “Managers have a discretionary budget for staff rewards.”
adj
1
Left to someone's own judgement rather than fixed by rules.
"Managers have a discretionary budget for staff rewards."
"The bonus is discretionary and depends on company performance."
How to use discretionary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOptional and decided case-by-case, rather than fixed or guaranteed.
Common pairings
discretionary spending
discretionary bonus
discretionary powers
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more discretionary
- Superlative
- most discretionary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Managers have a _____ budget for staff rewards.
Etymology
From discretion plus the adjective suffix -ary, "pertaining to."
Synonyms
View more →
discretional
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for discretionary
See all rhymes for discretionary →Frequently asked questions
What does “discretionary” mean?
The word “discretionary” means left to someone's own judgement rather than fixed by rules. In plain terms, optional and decided case-by-case, rather than fixed or guaranteed.
How do you pronounce “discretionary”?
“Discretionary” is pronounced dih-SKREH-shuhn-ree (/dɪsˈkɹɛʃəˌnɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “discretionary” in a sentence?
Here is “discretionary” used in a sentence: “Managers have a discretionary budget for staff rewards.”
What part of speech is “discretionary”?
“Discretionary” is an adjective.
Is “discretionary” a common word?
“Discretionary” is an uncommon word in modern English.
