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disposable

disposable

30 3.4
Available to use when needed, like money or resources
  • adjective
  • /dɪsˈpoʊzəbl/
translation icon : disponible
  • With the improved standard of living and the growth in both leisure time and disposable income, consumer products flooded the market.
  • disposable income
  • disposable diapers
  • disposable resources

When we're when you're in that group, there's a fair amount of disposable income available to people.

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Examples

  • After receiving a raise, she found that she had more disposable income to save for her future.

  • We know the white America has the most disposable income.

  • Would you do me a favor and not tell Grace that I have disposable income?

  • We live in a disposable society, but we do not have a disposable planet.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Increase their disposable income by a factor of four at least.

  • In addition, consumer debt was soaring, leaving little disposable income available for household and health care expenditures.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Many families use their disposable income to go on vacations or buy new appliances.

  • With his disposable income, he could finally afford to travel and experience new cultures.

Synonyms

available
vsdisposable
2.3

Able to be used or bought and not in use now

is about being ready to use when needed rather than just access
at the disposal of
vsdisposable
1 3.5

Available for someone to use when they need it

is available to be used by anyone when required
at someone's disposal
vsdisposable
1 3.7

Available for someone to use when they need it

is available for general use as needed rather than for one named person
spendable
vsdisposable
1 3.9

Money you can use to buy things after paying taxes

means available assets in general, not money only
utilizable
vsdisposable
6.6

Can be used for a practical purpose

implies present readiness for use whenever needed rather than mere suitability

Antonyms

650 3.2

Continuing for a long time and unlikely to change

nondisposable
  • Specialized
7.7

Money you cannot spend because of rules

Compounds

disposable income
  • Specialized
16 3.6

Money a household has to spend or save after taxes are taken out

How Available

disposable
30 3.4
available
2.3
spare
103 2.1
unavailable
81 3.4

Surface Forms

disposable positive

Morphology

disposable = dispose (opaque) = dispose + able

Although the word is formally 'dispose' plus '-able', this sense means 'available for use' and is not readily predictable from the common learner meaning of 'dispose'.

Etymology

Disposable comes from the verb dispose and the ending -able; dispose is related to disposal, which in phrases like 'at your disposal' means 'ready to use'. So disposable here means 'able to be used when needed'.