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This has been bothering me for some time, and I apologize for any mistakes here.

What I'm looking for is another word for discretion without possession. It's almost like saying the phrase "up to you".

Example:

I don't care about the color of the car, so that is [your decision/up to you].

What you choose to wear is completely [your decision/up to you].

I could say "That is your discretion" but I'm looking for an adjective. I was thinking of the word optional but that almost implies that the object is unnecessary.

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    How about, "It's your choice."? (BTW - "I don't care for the color of the car" means you don't like the color of the car. I think you meant "I don't care about the color of the car.".)
    – Kristina Lopez
    Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 22:33
  • Thank you, didn't catch that. Ha. Also, I'm thinking more for an adjective in a way that "arbitrary" can be used for "His meal times are completely random."
    – Devolvera
    Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 22:42
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    The term is not "That is your discretion" but "at your discretion" (e.g. "Come at your discretion" — in other words, "come if you think it is wise / safe / convenient" [depending on the context]); also "up to your discretion" (e.g. "Whether you come today or tomorrow is up to your discretion" — in other words, "come when you think it is most convenient or appropriate"). There is some overlap in usage.
    – Erik Kowal
    Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 23:05
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    From AHDEL: discretionary adj. 1. Left to or regulated by one's own discretion or judgment. General reference.
    – Edwin Ashworth
    Commented Jan 21, 2015 at 23:31

3 Answers 3

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I suppose that you could use the adjective volitional, if you were feeling especially high-toned. Here is the definition of volition in Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003):

volition n (1615) 1 : an act of making a choice or decision; also : a choice or decision made 2 : the power of choosing or determining : WILL —volitional adj

But the more common adjective these days is surely the one that Edwin Ashworh recommends in a comment above: discretionary. Again, the Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary's definition:

discretionary adj (1698) 1 : left to discretion : exercised at one's own discretion [where discretion means "individual choice or judgment"] 2 : available for discretionary use

Definition 1 of discretionary is the relevant one for your purposes.

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Perhaps immaterial?

Unimportant under the circumstances; irrelevant: the difference in our ages is immaterial

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I've tried to find a word or phrase that fits your examples. I can suggest the following:

For your first sentence, you could use "at random"

  • "at random" - without definite aim, direction, rule, or method. - Merriam-Webster
  • "I don't care about the color, just choose at random."
  • "We tasted the wines at random and then rated each."
  • "Choose a card at random from the deck."

For your second sentence, I suggest "personal"

  • "personal" (adj) "relating to a particular person" - TFD
  • "Whatever you choose to wear is completely personal."
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