voluntary
Americanadjective
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done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice.
a voluntary contribution.
- Synonyms:
- designed, intended, planned, purposeful, considered
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of, relating to, or acting in accord with the will.
voluntary cooperation.
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of, relating to, or depending on voluntary action.
voluntary hospitals.
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Law.
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acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
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done by intention, and not by accident.
voluntary manslaughter.
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made without valuable consideration.
a voluntary settlement.
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Physiology. subject to or controlled by the will.
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having the power of willing or choosing.
a voluntary agent.
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proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous.
voluntary laughter.
- Synonyms:
- unconstrained, natural, unforced, free
noun
plural
voluntaries-
something done voluntarily.
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a piece of music, frequently spontaneous and improvised, performed as a prelude to a larger work, especially a piece of organ music performed before, during, or after an office of the church.
adjective
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performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being asked
a voluntary donation
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(of persons) serving or acting in a specified function of one's own accord and without compulsion or promise of remuneration
a voluntary social worker
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done by, composed of, or functioning with the aid of volunteers
a voluntary association
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endowed with, exercising, or having the faculty of willing
a voluntary agent
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arising from natural impulse; spontaneous
voluntary laughter
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law
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acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion
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made without payment or recompense in any form
a voluntary conveyance
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(of the muscles of the limbs, neck, etc) having their action controlled by the will
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maintained or provided by the voluntary actions or contributions of individuals and not by the state
voluntary schools
the voluntary system
noun
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music a composition or improvisation, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service
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work done without compulsion
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obsolete a volunteer, esp in an army
Related Words
See deliberate. Voluntary, spontaneous agree in applying to something that is a natural outgrowth or natural expression arising from circumstances and conditions. Voluntary implies having given previous consideration, or having exercised judgment: a voluntary confession; a voluntary movement; The offer was a voluntary one. Something that is spontaneous arises as if by itself from the nature of the circumstances or condition: spontaneous applause, combustion, expression of admiration.
Other Word Forms
- nonvoluntary adjective
- semivoluntary adjective
- unvoluntary adjective
- voluntarily adverb
- voluntariness noun
Etymology
Origin of voluntary
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin voluntārius, equivalent to volunt(ās) “willingness, inclination” (ultimately representing a formation with -tās -ty 2 on the present participle of velle “to want, wish”; will 1, -ent ) + -ārius -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Everyone has a right to live. I work. I do good for the society. I do voluntary work as well," she said.
From BBC
They pointed to features like Familiar Faces and Community Requests, which allow voluntary sharing with police, as already troubling precedents.
From Salon
The modified injunction “does not prohibit the voluntary resolution of civil rights investigations and litigations” with UC.
From Los Angeles Times
Officials for the seven states have tried to boost reservoir levels via voluntary water cutbacks and federal payments to farmers who agree to leave fields dry part of the year.
From Los Angeles Times
It is now compulsory for Year 7 and 8 pupils at Alderbrook School, Solihull, to lock away their devices at the start of the day, after a voluntary scheme began last year.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
