The meaning of DISCRETIONARY is left to individual choice or judgment : exercised at one's own discretion. How to use discretionary in a sentence.

DISCRETIONARY definition: 1. able to be decided by a particular person or group in a particular situation, rather than being…. Learn more.

Definition of discretionary adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. decided according to the judgement of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular …

Discretionary things are not fixed by rules but are decided on by people in authority, who consider each individual case. Magistrates were given wider discretionary powers. Check whether you …

having or using the ability to decide at one's own discretion: discretionary powers.

DISCRETIONARY definition: subject or left to one's own discretion. See examples of discretionary used in a sentence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 dis•cre•tion•ar•y (di skresh′ ə ner′ē), adj. subject or left to one's own discretion. for any use or …

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word discretionary, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

DISCRETIONARY meaning: 1 : available to be used when and how you decide; 2 : done or used when necessary

1. Left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment. 2. Available for use as needed or desired: a discretionary fund.