What does discountable mean?
Discountable is an adjective meaning capable of being discounted, especially eligible for a reduced price. A retailer may describe certain merchandise, excess stock, or end-of-season products as discountable before applying a markdown. The word can also have a financial or evaluative sense: an asset, income stream, or future cash flow may be described as discountable when its present value is to be calculated by applying a discount rate. In this context, discountable refers to the treatment of a value rather than to eligibility for a consumer promotion. The term is more common in commercial, economic, and technical writing than in everyday speech. It should not be confused with discounted, which describes something after a reduction has already been made. Discountable is especially useful when distinguishing potential eligibility or applicability of a discount from the completed transaction itself.
adjectiveCapable of being discounted; eligible for a reduction in price. In financial or evaluative contexts, it can also mean subject to discounting when calculating present value.
- Capable of being discounted, especially with a reduction in price.
- Subject to discounting when used in a financial, economic, or evaluative calculation.
"The retailer classified the slow-moving products as discountable and reduced their prices accordingly."
"Only products marked for the seasonal sale were discountable."
"The forecast cash flows were discountable, so the analysts applied a market-based discount rate."
Discountable means “eligible for a discount,” not merely “on sale.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does discountable come from?
Discountable was formed in English from discount and the suffix -able, which can mean “capable of being” or “subject to.” Discount entered English from French and ultimately derives from Latin computare, “to reckon” or “calculate,” combined with a prefix indicating removal or deduction. The related English words count, account, and counter reflect the same Latin tradition of reckoning and calculation.
Related word forms
How discountable is actually used
This is chiefly a formal, business, and financial term. It is more often encountered in technical writing, structured phrases, and catalogue-style descriptions than in ordinary conversation.
Easily confused with discountable
Discountable means eligible for a reduction, whereas discounted means that the reduction has already been applied.