voluntary

[ vol-uhn-ter-ee ]

/ ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr i /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: voluntary / voluntarily on Thesaurus.com

adjective

done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution.

of, relating to, or acting in accord with the will: voluntary cooperation.

of, relating to, or depending on voluntary action: voluntary hospitals.

Law.

acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
done by intention, and not by accident: voluntary manslaughter.
made without valuable consideration: a voluntary settlement.

Physiology. subject to or controlled by the will.

having the power of willing or choosing: a voluntary agent.

proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous: voluntary laughter.

noun, plural vol·un·tar·ies.

something done voluntarily.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR voluntary

1 considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed.

7 free, unforced, natural, unconstrained.

See synonyms for voluntary on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is commonly used with other verbs to express intention?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 -ty² on the present participle of velle “to want, wish”; see will¹, -ent) + -ārius -ary

synonym study for voluntary

1. See deliberate. 7. 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 WORDS FROM voluntary

vol·un·tar·i·ly

[vol-uhn-tair-uh-lee, vol-uhn-ter-], /ˌvɒl ənˈtɛər ə li, ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr-/, adverbvol·un·tar·i·ness, nounnon·vol·un·tar·y, adjectivesem·i·vol·un·tar·y, adjective

un·vol·un·tar·y, adjective

Words nearby voluntary

volume velocity, voluminous, Volund, voluntarily, voluntarism, voluntary, Voluntary Aid Detachment, voluntary arrangement, voluntary association, voluntaryism, voluntary muscle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use voluntary in a sentence

With the country in the midst of a pandemic, policy makers and public health experts have proposed voluntary mail-in voting as one way for Americans to safely vote in November.
Mandatory mail-in voting hurts neither Democratic nor Republican candidates|Sujata Gupta|August 26, 2020|Science News
Another 12,500 employees have retired and 11,000 are taking a voluntary leave of absence for the month of October—meaning that American expects to cut a total of 40,000 employees from a workforce that numbered 140,000 at the start of the pandemic.
American Airlines announces plan to cut 19,000 jobs—unless Congress extends pandemic aid|Maria Aspan|August 25, 2020|Fortune
“They’re looking under the couch cushions for every megawatt hour in the West but aren’t willing to pay for someone’s voluntary action,” he says.
Here’s how to keep California’s grid from buckling under the heat|James Temple|August 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
This bill would require anyone who operates a contact tracing app to collaborate with public health officials, make app use voluntary and prevent commercial use of data collected by the apps.
Readers ask about antibody tests, chimeras and public health and privacy|Science News Staff|July 26, 2020|Science News

Humans For Humanity is a non profit, voluntary organisation run by a 25 year old social worker, Anurag Chauhan who is working on a project called WASH – Women Sanitation Hygiene from 2015.
Menstruation Comes With Innumerable Taboos In India|LGBTQ-Editor|May 29, 2020|No Straight News
Our world is in so many ways more based on voluntary exchange than ever before.
Relax—Both Parties Are Going Extinct|Nick Gillespie|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I see the celebs capitalizing on all these leaks, whether voluntary or not,” wrote Reddit user attacktei.
‘The Fappening’ Continues: Nudes of Kim Kardashian, Mary-Kate Olsen, and More Celebs Leak Online|Marlow Stern|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Non-GMO Project, on the other hand, provides a voluntary way for manufacturers to declare themselves GMO free.
Whole Foods' Anti-GMO Swindle|Michael Schulson|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Certification is voluntary only insofar as work as a physician is voluntary.
Rand Paul and the Certification Racket|Russell Saunders|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
UNRWA is funded by voluntary contributions, but Arab and predominantly Islamic nations are rarely among the top donors.
War of Words Between Israel and UN Continues|Betsy Pisik|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This system had been in full operation in both districts prior to the general application of the voluntary system.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
It therefore took under favorable consideration the question of a voluntary clearing system.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
This is secured only by right objects of thought; it is impossible to reach it by voluntary mechanics.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Our voluntary service regulars are the last descendants of those rulers of the ancient world, the Roman Legionaries.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
A covenant is a mutual voluntary compact between two parties on given terms or conditions.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for voluntary

voluntary

/ (ˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being askeda voluntary donation

(of persons) serving or acting in a specified function of one's own accord and without compulsion or promise of remunerationa voluntary social worker

done by, composed of, or functioning with the aid of volunteersa voluntary association

endowed with, exercising, or having the faculty of willinga voluntary agent

arising from natural impulse; spontaneousvoluntary laughter

law

acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion
made without payment or recompense in any forma voluntary conveyance

(of the muscles of the limbs, neck, etc) having their action controlled by the will

maintained or provided by the voluntary actions or contributions of individuals and not by the statevoluntary schools; the voluntary system

noun plural -taries

music a composition or improvisation, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service

work done without compulsion

obsolete a volunteer, esp in an army

Derived forms of voluntary

voluntarily, adverbvoluntariness, noun

Word Origin for voluntary

C14: from Latin voluntārius, from voluntās will, from velle to wish

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

Medical definitions for voluntary

voluntary

[ vŏl′ən-tĕr′ē ]

adj.

Arising from or acting on one's own free will.

Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition, as of respiration.

Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will.

voluntary

OTHER WORDS FOR voluntary

Origin of voluntary

synonym study for voluntary

OTHER WORDS FROM voluntary

Words nearby voluntary

Words related to voluntary

How to use voluntary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for voluntary

Derived forms of voluntary

Word Origin for voluntary

Medical definitions for voluntary