1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. Voluntary

Definition of Voluntary in English :

Define Voluntary in English

Voluntary meaning in English

Meaning of Voluntary in English

Pronunciation of Voluntary in English

Voluntary pronunciation in English

Pronounce Voluntary in English

Voluntary

see synonyms of voluntary

Noun

1. military volunteer, voluntary, volunteer

(military) a person who freely enlists for service

2. voluntary

composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance

Adjective

3. voluntary

of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled

Example Sentences:
'man is a voluntary agent'
'participation was voluntary'
'voluntary manslaughter'
'voluntary generosity in times of disaster'
'voluntary social workers'
'a voluntary confession'

4. voluntary

controlled by individual volition

Example Sentences:
'voluntary motions'
'voluntary muscles'

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Voluntary

see synonyms of voluntary
adjective
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
noun plural -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

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Voluntary

see synonyms of voluntary
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
6. 
a. 
supported by contributions or freewill offerings; not supported or maintained by the state
voluntary churches
b. 
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
a. 
acting or done without compulsion or persuasion
b. 
done without profit, payment, or any valuable consideration
nounWord forms: plural ˈvolunˌtaries
9.  Music
a piece or solo, often an improvisation, played on the organ before, during, or after a church service

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Voluntary

see synonyms of voluntary
adj.
1. Done or undertaken of one's own free will: a voluntary decision to leave the job.
2. Acting or done willingly and without constraint or expectation of reward: a voluntary hostage; voluntary community work.
3. Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition: voluntary muscle contractions.
4. Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will: "This law of happiness ... resides in the exercise of the active capacities of a voluntary agent" (John Dewey).
5. Supported by contributions or charitable donations rather than by government appropriations: voluntary hospitals.
6. Law
a. Without legal obligation or consideration: a voluntary conveyance of property.
b. Done intentionally but without premeditation or deliberation, as when under the influence of an intense emotional reaction: voluntary manslaughter.
n. pl. vol·un·tar·ies
1. Music
a. A short piece of music, often improvised on a solo instrument, played as an introduction to a larger work.
b. A piece for solo organ, often improvised, played before, during, or after a religious service.
2. A volunteer.

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

WORD OF THE DAY

hamlet

FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS

Recent Searches