discretionary
gb/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/ us/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
C1
Engleză
~ 9300
Sensuri
0 sensuri
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
Left to someone's own judgment
Decided by a person or group, not strictly set by a rule or law.
Tipar de utilizare:
discretionary [power/decision/payment]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners often use "optional" when "discretionary" is better. "Optional" means you personally can choose to do it or not. "Discretionary" means a person or body with power (a judge, manager, government) decides if or how something will be done, even when some action is expected or common.
Sinonime
optional (Suggests something is not required at all, while "discretionary" stresses that someone has the power to decide whether and how to do it.)
Antonime
mandatory (Describes something that must be done and is not left to personal choice or judgment.)
Colocații
discretionary powers
|discretionary authority
|discretionary bonus
|discretionary decision
|discretionary grant
Teme
law
|business
|government
|core_vocabulary
Exemple
- The judge has discretionary powers to reduce the sentence in special cases.
- Employees may receive a discretionary bonus based on overall company performance.
- The board made a discretionary decision to fund the project despite the risks.
- Scholarships are awarded on a discretionary basis by the committee.
- The manager has discretionary authority to approve small refunds without asking head office.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- The teacher has discretionary power to give extra time on the test.
- The company gave workers a discretionary bonus at the end of the year.
- The bank manager can make a discretionary decision to lower the fee.
- Aid is given on a discretionary basis, not to every applicant.
- The judge used her discretionary authority to change the fine.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
About nonessential money or spending
Describing money you have left after you pay for basic things like food and rent, which you can spend on extra things you want.
Tipar de utilizare:
discretionary [income/spending/budget/funds]
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes mix up "discretionary income" with "total salary". Discretionary income is what is left after paying basic costs. They may also think it means "secret" because of confusion with "discreet"; in fact it only refers to money that can be freely chosen for extra spending.
Sinonime
disposable (In the phrase "disposable income" it is very close in meaning, but "discretionary" usually focuses more on nonessential, choice-based spending.)
Antonime
essential (Essential expenses or spending are necessary for basic living, while discretionary spending is for nonessential items.)
Colocații
discretionary income
|discretionary spending
|discretionary budget
|discretionary funds
|discretionary purchases
Teme
business
|money
|economics
|finance
|daily_life
Exemple
- Rising rents have reduced many families' discretionary income.
- During a recession, consumers often cut back on discretionary spending first.
- The company has a small discretionary budget for staff training and development.
- We used our discretionary funds to upgrade the office computers.
- Travel and entertainment are usually considered discretionary expenses.
Exemple pentru cursanți
- My discretionary income is small after I pay my rent and bills.
- People often reduce discretionary spending when they lose their job.
- We put our discretionary funds into a holiday trip.
- Eating at restaurants is a discretionary expense for many families.
- The city has a discretionary budget for special community projects.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
discretionary
IPA
GB/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
US/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi/
Silabe și accent
dis - cre - tion - ary (4 silabe)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cre)
Forme ale cuvântului
Adjective
- Base: discretionary
Familie de cuvinte
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
Expresii
discretionary authority
1/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi əθˈɔɹɪti/
fixed phrase
technical
Right to decide using judgment
The official right to choose what to do in certain situations, instead of always following a fixed rule.
Exemple
- Managers have discretionary authority to approve small discounts for customers.
- The law gives the agency discretionary authority in how it enforces the rules.
- Under the new policy, teachers have less discretionary authority over grading.
discretionary bonus
1/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi bˈoʊnəs/
fixed phrase
technical
Bonus paid only by choice
An extra payment from a company that is not guaranteed and is given only if the employer decides to give it.
Exemple
- Staff may receive a discretionary bonus depending on company profits.
- Because it was a discretionary bonus, the amount changed each year.
- The contract makes clear that any bonus is entirely discretionary.
discretionary income
1/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi ˈɪŋkˌʌm/
fixed phrase
technical
Money left after basic costs
The money you have left after you pay for basic needs like housing, food, and bills, which you can spend on extra things you want.
Exemple
- Higher energy prices have eaten into people's discretionary income.
- With more discretionary income, she started traveling abroad every year.
- Young professionals often spend a large part of their discretionary income on entertainment.
discretionary powers
1/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi pˈaʊɚz/
fixed phrase
technical
Official powers used by judgment
Legal or official powers that allow a person, like a judge or officer, to decide what to do based on their own judgment.
Exemple
- Immigration officers have wide discretionary powers at the border.
- The court's discretionary powers are limited by the new legislation.
- Local councils were granted discretionary powers to close unsafe venues.
discretionary spending
1/dɪskɹˈɛʃənˌɛɹi spˈɛndɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Nonessential, choice-based spending
Money you spend on things that are not basic needs, like holidays or new gadgets, which you can choose to cut if needed.
Exemple
- Households are reducing discretionary spending because of economic uncertainty.
- The government plans to review all discretionary spending in next year's budget.
- Dining out and luxury goods are typical examples of discretionary spending.