discretionary
adjective
formaluk/dɪˈskreʃ.ən.ər.i/us/dɪˈskreʃ.ən.er.i/ableto bedecidedby aparticularpersonorgroup,ratherthan beingcontrolledbyrules, orrelatingto thepowerto make thesedecisions:
Judges havegreatdiscretionarypowers.法官有很大的自主权。
Discretionarysentencingisintendedto take intoaccounttherangeofpossibleaggravatingandmitigatingfactorsin anyseriouscrime.
Thesepayrisesarepurelydiscretionary.
a discretionarygrant/bonus/award
finance & economicsspecialized
relatingto things that youpayfor that are notconsideredcompletelynecessary, or tomoneyspenton these things:
Households have alreadycutback on discretionaryspendingamidworriesabout theeconomicoutlook.
Consumerspendinghasshrunk, with mostpeoplecuttingback on discretionarypurchases, such ashotelstays.
Hesuggeststhat any discretionaryincomeshould be used topayoffloansbefore using it to makeinvestments.
Opposite
non-discretionary
finance & economics,lawspecialized
A discretionaryfund(= anamountofmoneysavedorinvestedfor someone)allowsthepersonwhomanagesthefundto makedecisionsabout how themoneyin it ismanagedand used, withoutaskingthepersonwho themoneybelongsto:
Trustees of a discretionarytrustmay beabletodecidewhichbeneficiaryto makepaymentsto and how oftenpaymentsare made.
With a discretionaryaccount, abrokermakestradesfor you.
Opposite
non-discretionary
- There are manypointsin thesentencingprocesswhereprosecutorsandjudgescanexercisediscretionaryauthoritytoreducedrugsentences.
- Schooldistrictshave discretionaryfundsthat they can use foractivitiessuch asathletics.
- Seniormanagersareeligiblefor discretionarybonuses.
- Companycontributionsto the employee'spensionschemeare discretionary,basedon the company'sprofitability.
- It's a discretionaryexpenditure— you don't have tobuythetickets.
- Sales of discretionaryitemssuch asjewelleryandfurniturehavesufferedthe most.
Decisions and deciding
- ascription
- balance
- be make or break forsomeone/somethingidiom
- be on the horns of a dilemmaidiom
- choose
- clinch
- fight
- fish
- fix
- if/when it comes to the crunchidiom
- in the balanceidiom
- judgment call
- judicial review
- make or breaksomethingidiom
- resolution
- top-down
- toss up
- unadjudicated
- unelected
- volition
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Power to control
Paying money
Investing money