adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/dɪˈskɹɛʃən(ə)ɹi/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/dɪsˈkɹɛʃəˌnɛɹi/
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 S K R EH1 SH AH0 N EH2 R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Available at one's discretion; able to be used as one chooses; left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
discretionary income
discretionary powers
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective satellite
Meaning 2
having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The commission has discretionary power to award extra funds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: discretional
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
(especially of funds) not earmarked; available for use as needed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
discretionary funds
discretionary income
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From discretion + -ary (“pertaining to”). Compare French discrétionnaire.
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
discrecional
— available at one's discretion
Czech:
ke zvážení
— available at one's discretion
Czech:
na zvážení
— available at one's discretion
Danish:
diskretionær
— available at one's discretion
Finnish:
harkinnanvarainen
— available at one's discretion
French:
discrétionnaire
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
választható
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
belátás szerinti
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
tetszés szerinti
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
megítélés szerinti
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
(saját/szabad) belátása/megítélése szerinti
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
saját/szabad belátására/megítélésére bízott
— available at one's discretion
Hungarian:
diszkrecionális
— available at one's discretion
Icelandic:
geðþótta-
— available at one's discretion
Icelandic:
valinn að vild
— available at one's discretion
Icelandic:
að eigin ákvörðun
— available at one's discretion
Italian:
discrezionale
— available at one's discretion
Polish:
uznaniowy
— available at one's discretion
Polish:
dyskrecjonalny
— available at one's discretion
Portuguese:
discricionário
— available at one's discretion
Portuguese:
irrestrito
— available at one's discretion
Portuguese:
irrestrita
— available at one's discretion
Portuguese:
irrestritos
— available at one's discretion
Portuguese:
irrestritas
— available at one's discretion
Russian:
предоставленный на собственное усмотре́ние
(predostavlennyj na sobstvennoje usmotrénije)
— available at one's discretion
Spanish:
discrecional
— available at one's discretion
