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Discretionary for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: dɪ'skrɛʃə,nɛri

What does Discretionary really mean?

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Hey there! So, the word "discretionary" is a bit of a big one, but I'll do my best to explain it to you in a way that makes sense. Let's break it down.

When we talk about something being "discretionary," we're talking about it being up to someone's discretion, or their decision. In other words, it's something that is optional or based on someone's own judgment.

For example, imagine you have some money to spend. You might have some things you need to buy, like food and clothes, which are necessary. But then you might also have some money left over to spend on things that you want, like a new video game or a fun outing. That extra money for the fun things is discretionary income, because it's up to you to decide how to spend it.

Now, "discretionary" can also be used to talk about authority or power that someone has to make decisions on their own. Like, a teacher might have discretionary powers to give extra credit to a student who worked really hard, even if their grade doesn't quite meet the requirements. It's up to the teacher's discretion to make that call.

So, in a nutshell, "discretionary" is all about things that are optional or based on someone's judgment. It's like having the freedom to make choices or decisions about something, whether it's money or power or something else. I hope that helps you understand! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Revised and Fact checked by Mike Johnson on 2023-11-15 09:52:09

Discretionary In a sentece

Learn how to use Discretionary inside a sentece

  • I have discretionary time this weekend, so I can choose to go to the movies or stay home and relax.
  • My boss gave me discretionary authority to make decisions about how to organize the office party.
  • I have a discretionary budget for decorating my room, so I can decide whether to spend it all at once or save some for later.
  • The company offers discretionary bonuses to employees who exceed their sales targets.
  • The school principal has the discretionary power to decide whether to cancel classes due to bad weather.

Discretionary Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Discretionary Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.