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View synonyms for

voluntary

[vol-uhn-ter-ee]

adjective

  1. done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice.

    a voluntary contribution.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  2. of, relating to, or acting in accord with the will.

    voluntary cooperation.

  3. of, relating to, or depending on voluntary action.

    voluntary hospitals.

  4. Law.

    1. acting or done without compulsion or obligation.

    2. done by intention, and not by accident.

      voluntary manslaughter.

    3. made without valuable consideration.

      a voluntary settlement.

  5. Physiology.subject to or controlled by the will.

  6. having the power of willing or choosing.

    a voluntary agent.

  7. proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous.

    voluntary laughter.

    Synonyms: , , ,


noun

plural

voluntaries 
  1. something done voluntarily.

  2. 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.

voluntary

/ -trɪ, ˈvɒləntərɪ /

adjective

  1. performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being asked

    a voluntary donation

  2. (of persons) serving or acting in a specified function of one's own accord and without compulsion or promise of remuneration

    a voluntary social worker

  3. done by, composed of, or functioning with the aid of volunteers

    a voluntary association

  4. endowed with, exercising, or having the faculty of willing

    a voluntary agent

  5. arising from natural impulse; spontaneous

    voluntary laughter

  6. law

    1. acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion

    2. made without payment or recompense in any form

      a voluntary conveyance

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

  8. maintained or provided by the voluntary actions or contributions of individuals and not by the state

    voluntary schools

    the voluntary system

“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

noun

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

  2. work done without compulsion

  3. obsoletea volunteer, esp in an army

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • voluntarily adverb
  • voluntariness noun
  • nonvoluntary adjective
  • semivoluntary adjective
  • unvoluntary adjective
  • ˈDZܲԳٲԱ noun
  • DZܲˈٲ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of voluntary1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin DZܲԳܲ, equivalent to DZܲԳ() “willingness, inclination” (ultimately representing a formation with - -ty 2 on the present participle of velle “to want, wish”; will 1, -ent ) + -ary
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Word History and Origins

Origin of voluntary1

C14: from Latin DZܲԳܲ, from DZܲԳ will, from velle to wish
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Synonym Study

See deliberate. 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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The organization’s leaders suspect that many of those detained Tuesday are Indigenous, and are rushing to find them before they sign documents for voluntary deportation that they don’t understand.

From

Authorities later said he was granted "voluntary departure" and left the country.

From

The star left tackle had missed all of voluntary organized team activities while in discussions for a contract extension.

From

Last month, Professor Burke sent an email to staff saying the university had made "good progress" in making savings through "strict controls" and "voluntary severance and retirements".

From

The document states that poverty is "not a problem which the executive can solve in isolation", but one that requires community groups, business, councils and voluntary groups to help.

From

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voluntarismVoluntary Aid Detachment