Discretionarily

Discretionarily, an adverb derived from the noun 'discretion,' signifies acting according to one's own judgment or individual choice; not bound by rules or precedent; done or said in a way that gives you freedom of judgment. It emphasizes a situation where a decision or action is taken based on individual assessment and the specific circumstances at hand, rather than following a fixed formula or rigid guidelines. It implies a degree of autonomy and responsibility, requiring the agent to carefully consider the implications before acting. The term highlights the agency’s power to make an unforced decision or judgment, usually in matters involving sensitivity or importance.

Discretionarily meaning with examples

• The judge, after carefully considering the defendant's remorse and the victim's impact statement, decided discretionarily on a reduced sentence, believing it served justice better than the guidelines allowed. The situation needed more consideration than just a rule book. It made the court room have more power.
• The company, facing fluctuating market conditions, allowed its regional managers to allocate resources discretionarily, empowering them to respond quickly to local opportunities and challenges with the power to use the means that they could control without the board's authority. They were given the power to run a business with their own methods.
• During the crisis, the aid organization could distribute food and supplies discretionarily, focusing resources on the areas and individuals most in need, based on immediate assessment of the situation without the need of a superior to grant permissions. This was meant to make a fast decision in a high pressure enviroment.
• The teacher, after observing the student's improvement in class, graded assignments discretionarily, choosing to focus more on overall understanding than minor errors, which let him to give a more human touch to the class. This allowed them to grade and support their students to give them the power to work even harder.
• The government allocated funds discretionarily to support innovative projects based on their perceived potential for societal benefit, not bound by strict budget allocations but on their merits, to try and empower the future.