voluntary Hear it!

voluntary Definition

vol·un·tary (väl′ən ter′ē)

adjective

  1. brought about by one's own free choice; given or done of one's own free will; freely chosen or undertaken
  2. acting in a specified capacity willingly or of one's own accord
  3. intentional; not accidental voluntary manslaughter
  4. controlled by one's mind or will voluntary muscles
  5. having free will or the power of free choice man is a voluntary agent
    1. supported by contributions or freewill offerings; not supported or maintained by the state voluntary churches
    2. done or carried on by or made up of volunteers rather than by people paid or conscripted
  7. arising in the mind without external constraint; spontaneous
  8. Law
    1. acting or done without compulsion or persuasion
    2. done without profit, payment, or any valuable consideration

Etymology: ME voluntarie < L voluntarius, voluntary < voluntas, free will < volo, I wish: see volition

noun pl. -·tar′·ies

Music a piece or solo, often an improvisation, played on the organ before, during, or after a church service

voluntary Related Forms
vol′·un·tar′i·ly (väl′ən ter′ə lē) adverb
voluntary Synonyms

voluntary

modif.

willing, willed, willful, intentional, deliberate, wished, freely, spontaneous; see also optional.

voluntary implies the exercise of one's own free choice or will in an action, whether or not external influences are at work voluntary services; intentional applies to that which is done on purpose for a definite reason and is in no way accidental an intentional slight; deliberate implies full realization of the significance of what one intends to do and of its effects a deliberate lie; willful implies obstinate and perverse determination to follow one's own will despite influences, arguments, advice, etc. in opposition a willful refusal

voluntary Usage Examples

Noun used with modifier

  • service: Key features of our conciliation service Voluntary - you only take part if you want to and you can stop at any time.

Modifies a noun

  • sector: Jobs in the voluntary sector - which ones are right for you?
  • organization: George House Trust is the HIV voluntary organization for the North West of England.
  • contribution: Voluntary contributions must usually be paid within six years of the date they were due.
  • basis: Their services to the Parish Council are given on a voluntary basis.
  • agency: The first step to take is to contact either your local authority's adoption team or an approved voluntary adoption agency.
  • liquidation: If you want to put a company into voluntary liquidation, the costs vary depending on which insolvency practitioner you use.

Modifying Another Word

  • entirely: Taking part in the research study is entirely voluntary.
  • genuinely: We hope to offer subsidized places on this course to those who will be acting as independent examiners on a genuinely voluntary basis.
  • wholly: So the payment must be a wholly voluntary payment and not linked to attendance at the event.
  • completely: Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information.
  • even: This has been achieved by assessing women's experience of hospitals, doctors ' surgeries, social work and even voluntary sector services.
  • currently: She is currently voluntary support worker for the North East Refugee Service.

Used with adjective complement

  • pay: However, the time limit for paying voluntary National Insurance Contributions for the tax years from 1996-97 to 2000-01 has recently been extended.
  • recommend: At present the Center for Disease Control in the US recommends voluntary counseling and testing ( VCT ) for all pregnant women.
voluntary Quotes

It is hardest of all to give up the last slivers and shreds of objectivity, but only by doing so can faith finally free itself from all that is outworn and become as fully voluntary, creative and courageous as it isrequired to be today.

—Cupitt, Rev Don