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¹voluntary

adjective vol·un·tary \ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē\

: done or given because you want to and not because you are forced to : done or given by choice

: provided or supported by people who do work without being paid

: doing work without being paid

Full Definition of VOLUNTARY

: proceeding from the will or from one's own choice or consent

: unconstrained by interference : self-determining

: done by design or intention : intentional <voluntary manslaughter>

: of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will <voluntary behavior>

: having power of free choice

: provided or supported by voluntary action

: acting or done of one's own free will without valuable consideration or legal obligation

— vol·un·tar·i·ly adverb

— vol·un·tar·i·ness noun

See voluntary defined for English-language learners

See voluntary defined for kids

Origin of VOLUNTARY

Middle English, from Anglo-French voluntarie, from Latin voluntarius, from voluntas will, from velle to will, wish — more at will

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to VOLUNTARY

Synonyms: freewill, self-imposed, uncoerced, unforced, volitional, volunteer, willing

Antonyms: coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary, nonvoluntary, unwilled, will-less

Synonym Discussion of VOLUNTARY

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will. voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion <a voluntary confession>. intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved <the intentional concealment of vital information>. deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences <deliberate acts of sabotage>. willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another <willing obedience>.

²voluntary

noun

plural voluntar·ies

Definition of VOLUNTARY

a : a prefatory often extemporized musical piece

b : an improvisatory organ piece played before, during, or after a religious service

: one who participates voluntarily

First Known Use of VOLUNTARY

1598

VOLUNTARILY Defined for Kids

voluntary

adjective vol·un·tary \ˈvä-lən-ˌter-ē\

Definition of VOLUNTARY for Kids

: done, given, or acting of free choice <a voluntary confession> <a voluntary participant>

: done or acting with no expectation of payment <a voluntary job>

: relating to or controlled by the will <voluntary muscle movements>

— vol·un·tar·i·ly \ˌvä-lən-ˈter-ə-lē\ adverb <participate voluntarily>

Synonym Discussion of VOLUNTARY

voluntary, intentional, and deliberate mean done or brought about by choice. voluntary is used of an act that results from freedom of will. <Joining the club is voluntary.> It can also be used of an act that is controlled by the will. <Blinking the eyes can be a voluntary movement.> intentional is used of something that is done for a reason and only after some thought. <Her neglect of the task was intentional.> deliberate is used of an act that is done purposefully and with full understanding of the likely results. <It was a deliberate insult.>

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