Link Centre Dictionary

voluntary

vo·lun·tary

UK/ˈvɒl.ən.tɹi/ US/ˈvɑ.lənˌt(ɛ)ɹi/ fairly common
adjective (2) noun (2)

adjective

1.

of your own free will or design; not forced or compelled

  • “man is a voluntary agent”
  • “participation was voluntary”
  • “voluntary manslaughter”
  • “voluntary generosity in times of disaster”
  • “voluntary social workers”
  • “a voluntary confession”
Antonyms
Similar
2.

controlled by individual volition

  • “voluntary motions”
  • “voluntary muscles”
Antonyms

noun

1.

(military) a person who freely enlists for service

Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

Origin

From Middle English voluntarie, from Old French volontaire, from Latin voluntārius (“willing, of free will”), from voluntās (“will, choice, desire”), from volēns, present participle of volo (“to will”). Displaced native Old English selfwille (literally “self-willed”).

Phrases

  • individual voluntary arrangement
  • voluntary agent
  • voluntary aided school
  • voluntary controlled school
  • voluntary jurisdiction
  • voluntary manslaughter
  • voluntary movement
  • voluntary muscle

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.