The difference between Discretionary and Elective

When used as adjectives, discretionary means available at one's discretion, whereas elective means of, or pertaining to voting or elections.


Elective is also noun with the meaning: something that is an option or that may be elected, like a course of tertiary study or a medical procedure.

check bellow for the other definitions of Discretionary and Elective

  1. Discretionary as an adjective:

    Available at one's discretion; able to be used as one chooses; left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment.

    Examples:

    "discretionary income"

    "discretionary powers"

  1. Elective as an adjective:

    Of, or pertaining to voting or elections; involving a choice between options.

  2. Elective as an adjective:

    Optional or discretionary; chosen, not mandatory.

    Examples:

    "My insurance wouldn't pay for the operation because it was elective surgery."

  1. Elective as a noun:

    Something that is an option or that may be elected, like a course of tertiary study or a medical procedure.

Compare words:

Compare with synonyms and related words: