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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. voluntaries -·tar′·ies

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

Related Forms:

  • voluntarily vol′·un·tar′i·ly (väl′ən ter′ə lē) adverb

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical voluntary definition - medical

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


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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?

Modifying Another Word

  • entirely: Taking part in the research study is entirely voluntary.

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.
voluntary usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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

voluntary quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"voluntary." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/voluntary>

APA Style

voluntary. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/voluntary

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