nolens volens

[ noh-lens woh-lens; English noh-lenz voh-lenz ]

/ ˈnoʊ lɛns ˈwoʊ lɛns; English ˈnoʊ lɛnz ˈvoʊ lɛnz /

Save This Word!

adverb Latin.

whether willing or not; willy-nilly.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby nolens volens

no kidding, no-knock, nokyo, Nolan, Nolde, nolens volens, Nolichucky, noli me tangere, Nollekens, nolle prosequi, no-load

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nolens volens in a sentence

Bugle sounds ‘Retreat’ all too soon, and out of the water we have to go, nolens volens.
The Story of the "Britannia"|E. P. Statham
As he goes thus far he will, nolens volens, have to go further.
The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, Volume II (of II)|Charles Darwin
Well, thank heavens, when you do come back you will be nolens volens a fixture.
More Letters of Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin
To prevent re-capture they generally went into the woods, where the nuptial knot was tied by a priest nolens volens.
Servia, Youngest Member of the European Family|Andrew Archibald Paton

If man is 'metaphysical nolens volens,' it is equally true that he is metapolitical, to use Martensen's happy word, nolens volens.
Lux Mundi|Various

British Dictionary definitions for nolens volens

nolens volens

/ Latin (ˈnəʊlɛnz ˈvəʊlɛnz) /

adverb

whether willing or unwilling

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012