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

"I know that a lot of charities and the community and voluntary sector in the city are struggling just to do what they are doing right now," she said.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2024

The work involved the wider NHS, local authorities, housing providers and the voluntary sector, she added.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2024

"This fund, worth over £4m, is continuing to provide much-needed financial resources to the community and voluntary sector to support carers," it adds.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2022

That stood at 74% in the voluntary sector and 66% in the private sector.

From Reuters • Nov. 14, 2022

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