adj

discretionary

dih-SKREH-shuhn-ree

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

more discretionary comparative, most discretionary superlative

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Managers have a _____ budget for staff rewards.

From discretion plus the adjective suffix -ary, "pertaining to."

vary Mary nary wary Gary Cary diary ovary weary scary teary deary