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

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 notes

In plain EnglishOptional and decided case-by-case, rather than fixed or guaranteed.

Common pairings

discretionary spending discretionary bonus discretionary powers

Word forms

more discretionary comparative, most discretionary superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “discretionary” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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."

Rhymes for discretionary

vary Mary nary wary diary ovary weary apiary canary salary binary January

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.