voluntary association

American  

noun

1. a group of individuals joined together on the basis of mutual interest or common objectives, especially a business group that is not organized or constituted as a legal entity.

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Example Sentences

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent countries, most of which have historical ties to the United Kingdom and its former empire.

From Washington Times • Oct. 11, 2023

There were also some questions about whether the loss of the long-reigning monarch might affect the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 nations that, in many cases, have historic and linguistic ties to Britain.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2022

Many leaders from the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries, are expected to attend.

From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2022

It is a voluntary association of 54 countries that evolved gradually from the British Empire and has existed in its modern form since 1949.

From Reuters • Jun. 23, 2022

The voluntary association is entitled to compel its members to live up to their obligations.

From Anarchism by Eltzbacher, Paul