voluntary
Plural: voluntaries
Noun
- (military) a person who freely enlists for service
- composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance
- A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.
- A volunteer.
- A supporter of voluntarism; a voluntarist.
Adjective
- of your own free will or design; done by choice; 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"
- controlled by individual volition
- "voluntary motions"
- "voluntary muscles"
Adj
- Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
- Done by design or intention; intentional.
- Working or done without payment.
- Endowed with the power of willing.
- Of or relating to voluntarism.
Adv
- Voluntarily.
Examples
- If a man accidentally kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter.
- Wikimedia is a voluntary service.
Origin / Etymology
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”).
Synonyms
military volunteer, volunteer, autonomous, discretionary, honorary, intentional, optional, pro bono, spontaneous, unpaid, unsalaried, unwaged, volitional, willful
Antonyms
draftee, involuntary, accidental, antonym(s) of, compulsory, obligatory, paid, salaried
Scrabble Score: 15
voluntary: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordvoluntary: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
voluntary: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary