nolens volens

American

[noh-lens woh-lens, noh-lenz voh-lenz] / ˈnoʊ lɛns ˈwoʊ lɛns, ˈnoʊ lɛnz ˈvoʊ lɛnz /

adverb

Latin.

whether willing or not; willy-nilly.

nolens volens British

/ 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

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.

See Examples For:

nolens volens

I went to his bedroom door; it was locked from the outside, so I perforce remained where I was, to, nolens volens, witness the finish of last night's interview.

From Cecil Castlemaine's Gage, Lady Marabout's Troubles, and Other Stories by Ouida

One night, nolens volens, decision was forced on him.

From Beatrice Boville and Other Stories by Ouida

The king sent his ambassadors with the message that the young girl should be sent nolens volens.

From Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane

Just at this point Frau Rosamunda plucks her spouse by the sleeve and forces him, nolens volens, to retire with her.

From 'O Thou, My Austria!' by Ossip Schubin

The office was hereditary, and was not usually desired, but like the post of sheriff in an English county it had to be accepted nolens volens.

From The Inhabitants of the Philippines by Frederic H. Sawyer

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023