volitional

American  

[voh-lish-uh-nl, vuh-] / voʊˈlɪʃ ə nl, və- /

Rarely volitionary

adjective

1. done of one’s own will or choosing; deliberately decided or chosen.

   Researchers must make a reasonable effort to obtain the express and volitional assent of their research subjects.

2. under conscious control.

   The most hopeful new development is that scientists have used artificial nerve connections to restore some volitional movement for a subject's paralyzed arm.

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Other Word Forms

• nonvolitional adjective
• prevolitional adjective
• unvolitional adjective
• volitionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of volitional

volition ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

By around age 6 months, sucking has largely transitioned to a volitional action, as a result of greater involvement by the cerebral cortex.

From Washington Post

A planned frolic that features joyful dancing to the compulsive rhythms of a string band forgets that the conditions behind this festivity aren’t volitional.

From Los Angeles Times

In other chapters, though, race appears to have a more volitional hue, and people are “black by choice with a recognized right of resignation.”

From Washington Post

The words “against the person of another,” she wrote, requires volitional conduct and “demands that the perpetrator direct his action at, or target, another individual.”

From New York Times

But exercise is volitional; we can decide, for the most part, whether, when, where, how long, how hard and with whom we will work out.

From New York Times