adjective
- brought about by one's own free choice; given or done of one's own free will; freely chosen or undertaken
- acting in a specified capacity willingly or of one's own accord
- intentional; not accidental: voluntary manslaughter
- controlled by one's mind or will: voluntary muscles
- having free will or the power of free choice: man is a voluntary agent
- supported by contributions or freewill offerings; not supported or maintained by the state: voluntary churches
- done or carried on by or made up of volunteers rather than by people paid or conscripted
- arising in the mind without external constraint; spontaneous
- Law
- acting or done without compulsion or persuasion
- done without profit, payment, or any valuable consideration
Origin:
ME voluntarie < L voluntarius, voluntary < voluntas, free will < volo, I wish: see volition
noun pl. voluntaries
Music a piece or solo, often an improvisation, played on the organ before, during, or after a church service