voluntary
Use Voluntary in a sentence
ənˌtɛr adjective
1.
done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution.
2.
of, pertaining to, or acting in accord with the will: voluntary cooperation.
3.
of, pertaining to, or depending on voluntary action: voluntary hospitals.
4.
Law.
a.
acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
b.
done by intention, and not by accident: voluntary manslaughter.
c.
made without valuable consideration: a voluntary settlement.
5.
Physiology. subject to or controlled by the will.
noun
8.
something done voluntarily.
9.
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.
00:10
Voluntary
is always a great word to know.
So is heartbeat. Does it mean:
| a pulsation of the heart, including one complete systole and diastole |
| an innate mechanism of the body that regulates its rhythmic and periodic cycles |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin voluntārius, equivalent to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ultimately representing a formation with -tās -ty2 on the present participle of velle to want, wish; see will1, -ent) + -ārius -ary
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin voluntārius, equivalent to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ultimately representing a formation with -tās -ty2 on the present participle of velle to want, wish; see will1, -ent) + -ārius -ary
Related forms
vol·un·tar·i·ness, noun
non·vol·un·tar·y, adjective
sem·i·vol·un·tar·y, adjective
un·vol·un·tar·i·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed. See deliberate. 7. free, unforced, natural, unconstrained. 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.
1. considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed. See deliberate. 7. free, unforced, natural, unconstrained. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To voluntary
Collins
World English Dictionary
voluntary (ˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 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 |
| a. acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion | |
| b. 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 |
| —n , -taries | |
| 9. | music a composition or improvisation, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service |
| 10. | work done without compulsion |
| 11. | obsolete a volunteer, esp in an army |
| [C14: from Latin voluntārius, from voluntās will, from velle to wish] | |
| volun'tarily | |
| —adv | |
| 'voluntariness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
voluntary
late 14c. (implied in voluntarily), from L. voluntarius "of one's free will," from voluntas "will," from the ancient accusative singular prp. of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)). Originally of feelings, later also of actions (c.1449).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
voluntary vol·un·tar·y (vŏl'ən-těr'ē)
adj.
Arising from or acting on one's own free will.
Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition, as of respiration.
Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Anthropologists believe these indigenous people are living in voluntary isolation from the rest of the world.
It has no mandatory scheme, but many companies are participating in a voluntary one.
Their actions seemed to involved less voluntary control than the control group's.
These organizations cannot function without the voluntary time that people all over put into their work.
Nearby Words
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