voluntary sector

British

noun

the part of the economy that consists of non-profit-making organizations, as opposed to the public and private sectors

"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.

This plan includes actions for a range of stakeholders across the public and private sector including Translink, NI Water, local councils, academia, the community and voluntary sector and businesses.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

These are funded largely by the voluntary sector with a small amount of state funding.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

The hubs, which are tricky to set up and so are unlikely to be able to be scaled up drastically, unite the voluntary sector and the NHS.

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2025

Hanan went on to work in the voluntary sector, expecting a life-long career in social services.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2025

"This is why the voluntary sector is so important and incredibly helpful."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025

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