Voluntary actions or activities are done because someone chooses to do them and not because they have been forced to do them.
Attention is drawn to a special voluntary course in Commercial French.
The scheme, due to begin next month, will be voluntary.
Synonyms: optional, discretionary, up to the individual, open More Synonyms of voluntary
voluntarily (vɒləntrəli, US -terɪli)adverb [ADVERB with verb]
I would only leave here voluntarily if there was a big chance to work abroad.
Synonyms: willingly, freely, by choice, without being asked More Synonyms of voluntary
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Voluntary work is done by people who are not paid for it, but who do it because they want to do it.
In her spare time she does voluntary work.
He'd been working at the local hostel on a voluntary basis.
Synonyms: unpaid, volunteer, free, willing More Synonyms of voluntary
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A voluntary worker is someone who does work without being paid for it, because they want to do it.
They have achieved more with voluntary workers in three years than most organisationswith paid workers have achieved in ten.
We depend solely upon our voluntary helpers.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A voluntary organization is controlled and organized by the people who have chosen to work for it, often without being paid, rather than receiving help or money from the government.
Some local authorities and voluntary organizations also run workshops for peoplewith disabilities.
It has been largely through the voluntary sector that the needs of victims have beenmet.
...a voluntary hostel for ex-offenders.
More Synonyms of voluntary
voluntary in British English
(ˈvɒləntərɪ, -trɪ)
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
nounWord forms: 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
Derived forms
voluntarily (volunˈtarily)
adverb
voluntariness (ˈvoluntariness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin voluntārius, from voluntās will, from velle to wish
voluntary in American English
(ˈvɑlənˌtɛri)
adjective
1.
brought about by one's own free choice; given or done of one's own free will; freelychosen 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: pluralˈvolunˌtaries
9. Music
a piece or solo, often an improvisation, played on the organ before, during, or after a church service
SYNONYMY NOTE: voluntary implies the exercise of one's own free choice or will in an action, whether or notexternal influences are at work [voluntary services]; intentional applies to that which is done on purpose for a definite reason and is in no way accidental[an intentional slight]; deliberate implies full realization of the significance of what one intends to do and of itseffects [a deliberate lie]; willful implies obstinate and perverse determination to follow one's own will despite influences,arguments, advice, etc. in opposition [a willful refusal]
Derived forms
voluntarily (ˌvolunˈtarily) (ˌvɑlənˈtɛrəli)
adverb
Word origin
ME voluntarie < L voluntarius, voluntary < voluntas, free will < volo, I wish: see volition
Examples of 'voluntary' in a sentence
voluntary
Voluntary work is available and is recognised as part of your final degree.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Try voluntary work or go for a walk or swim.
The Sun (2016)
Some companies did make voluntary contributions, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Voluntary work you do in your spare time for a local team or group of actors could have a surprising and lucky outcome.
The Sun (2016)
How about voluntary work or swimming, dancing or running?
The Sun (2016)
If you want to make new friends, a shared interest can help and voluntary work is a great way to meet people.
The Sun (2016)
Doing some voluntary work would give you a new perspective, make you feel worthwhile and help with your CV to land a good job.
The Sun (2016)
Many restaurants make it clear that the service charge is voluntary.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We expect staffing to reduce and we hope this will be delivered on a voluntary basis.
The Sun (2010)
These same considerations apply to ministers who have elected voluntary withholding of their taxes.
Christianity Today (2000)
We are totally reliant on voluntary donations.
The Sun (2008)
This does not mean that all voluntary affirmative action programs will be upheld by the courts.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)
Those firms make voluntary contributions to racing from their offshore activities.
The Sun (2016)
It can offer advice and support to you and your mother and suggest local voluntary organisations.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Other nations have had active voluntary associations.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is a technology which needs to evolve on a voluntary basis.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Doing voluntary work can also boost your social life.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Relatives claim he did not want to make a supposedly voluntary donation from it to the union.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They demanded voluntary action a year ago but finally lost patience yesterday.
The Sun (2008)
The treatment was free and supported by voluntary contributions.
Max Arthur Lost Voices of the Edwardians: 19011910 in the words of the Men & Women Who WereThere (2006)
It would also be useful to find out about statutory and voluntary services for young people in your area.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Voluntary workers tend to be local and have the credibility to engage with people, not problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In voluntary aided schools, a majority are appointed by the church or religious body.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Instead, ministers will attempt to make it easier to fire bad workers by encouraging voluntary settlements.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We do not know what happens in voluntary aided schools and how it is decided whether or not a particular applicant is offered a place.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
voluntary
British English: voluntary /ˈvɒləntærɪ; -trɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Voluntary is used to describe actions and activities that you do because you choose them, rather than because you have to do them.
...classes where attendance is voluntary.
American English: voluntary
Arabic: طَوْعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: voluntário
Chinese: 自愿的
Croatian: dobrovoljan
Czech: dobrovolný
Danish: frivillig
Dutch: vrijwillig
European Spanish: voluntario
Finnish: vapaaehtoinen
French: volontaire
German: freiwillig
Greek: εθελοντικός
Italian: volonario
Japanese: 自発的な
Korean: 자발적인
Norwegian: frivillig
Polish: dobrowolny
European Portuguese: voluntário
Romanian: voluntar
Russian: добровольный
Latin American Spanish: voluntario
Swedish: frivillig
Thai: โดยสมัครใจ
Turkish: gönüllü
Ukrainian: добровільний
Vietnamese: tình nguyện
All related terms of 'voluntary'
voluntary body
an organization that is composed of or functions with the aid of volunteers and which provides aid or services to individuals, groups or countries
voluntary work
work that is done by the aid of volunteers
voluntary agency
an organization that is composed of or functions with the aid of volunteers and which provides aid or services to individuals , groups or countries
voluntary donation
A donation is something which someone gives to a charity or other organization.
voluntary helper
a person who aids or assists in a specified function of one's own accord and without compulsion or promise of remuneration
voluntary muscle
muscle whose action is normally controlled by an individual's will; mainly skeletal muscle, composed of parallel bundles of striated , multinucleate fibers
voluntary retailer
any member of a voluntary group of independent retailers, often using a common name or symbol, formed to obtain better prices from wholesalers or manufacturers in competition with supermarket chains
voluntary school
a school that promotes specific religious beliefs and which is funded by a local education authority but was not established by the authority
voluntary sector
the part of the economy that consists of non-profit-making organizations, as opposed to the public and private sectors
voluntary worker
a person who serves or acts in a specified function of their own accord and without compulsion or promise of remuneration
voluntary agreement
An agreement is a formal decision about future action which is made by two or more countries, groups, or people.
voluntary arrangement
a procedure enabling an insolvent company to come to an arrangement with its creditors and resolve its financial problems , often in compliance with a court order
voluntary association
a group of individuals joined together on the basis of mutual interest or common objectives , esp. a business group that is not organized or constituted as a legal entity
voluntary contribution
A contribution is a sum of money that you give in order to help pay for something.
voluntary euthanasia
the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness, with their consent
voluntary liquidation
the process of voluntarily terminating the affairs of a business, firm , etc, by realizing its assets to discharge its liabilities or the state of a business firm, etc, having its affairs so terminated
voluntary manslaughter
the unlawful killing of one human being by another with malice aforethought but in mitigating circumstances
voluntary organization
an organization that is composed of or functions with the aid of volunteers and which provides aid or services to individuals , groups or countries
voluntary redundancy
a financial package to encourage employees to voluntarily leave an organization that needs to restructure
Voluntary Aid Detachment
(in World War I) an organization of British women volunteers who assisted in military hospitals and ambulance duties
Voluntary Service Overseas
an organization that sends young volunteers to use and teach their skills in developing countries
Women's Royal Voluntary Service
a British auxiliary service organized in 1938 as the Women's Voluntary Service for work in air raids and civil defence : active throughout World War II and since 1945 in providing support services for those in need : became the Women's Royal Voluntary Service in 1966
third sector
the part of the economy that consists of non-profit-making organizations, as opposed to the public and private sectors
WRVS
Women's Royal Voluntary Service
symbol retailer
any member of a voluntary group of independent retailers, often using a common name or symbol, formed to obtain better prices from wholesalers or manufacturers in competition with supermarket chains
Chinese translation of 'voluntary'
voluntary
(ˈvɔləntərɪ)
adj
(= not compulsory) 自愿(願)的 (zìyuàn de)
[work, worker]志愿(願)的 (zhìyuàn de)
[organization]自愿(願)的 (zìyuàn de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
done or undertaken by free choice
a voluntary act undertaken in full knowledge of the consequences
Synonyms
intentional
I can't blame him. It wasn't intentional.
intended
deliberate
The attack was deliberate and unprovoked.
planned
studied
a studied understatement
purposed
calculated
a calculated strategy for winning power
wilful
Wilful neglect of the environment has caused this problem.
done on purpose
Opposites
involuntary
,
unintentional
,
instinctive
,
automatic
2 (adjective)
Definition
done or undertaken by free choice
The extra course in Commercial French is voluntary.
Synonyms
optional
Some people feel sex education should remain an optional school subject.
discretionary
They were given wider discretionary powers.
up to the individual
open
unforced
unconstrained
unenforced
at your discretion
discretional
open to choice
uncompelled
Opposites
forced
,
obligatory
,
enforced
,
mandatory
,
conscripted
3 (adjective)
Definition
done or maintained without payment
In her spare time she does voluntary work for the homeless.
Synonyms
unpaid
Even unpaid work for charity is better than nothing.
volunteer
free
The seminars are free, with lunch provided.
willing
honorary
gratuitous
He provided gratuitous services for charity.
pro bono (law)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calculated
Definition
carefully planned
a calculated strategy for winning power
Synonyms
deliberate,
planned,
considered,
studied,
intended,
intentional,
designed,
aimed,
purposeful,
premeditated
in the sense of deliberate
Definition
carefully thought out in advance
The attack was deliberate and unprovoked.
Synonyms
intentional,
meant,
planned,
considered,
studied,
designed,
intended,
conscious,
calculated,
thoughtful,
wilful,
purposeful,
premeditated,
prearranged,
done on purpose
in the sense of discretionary
They were given wider discretionary powers.
Synonyms
optional,
arbitrary,
unrestricted,
elective,
open to choice,
nonmandatory
Synonyms of 'voluntary'
voluntary
Explore 'voluntary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of free
Definition
provided without charge
The seminars are free, with lunch provided.
Synonyms
complimentary,
for free (informal),
for nothing,
unpaid,
for love,
free of charge,
on the house,
without charge,
gratuitous,
at no cost,
gratis,
buckshee (British, slang),
open or open source
in the sense of gratuitous
Definition
given or received without charge or obligation
He provided gratuitous services for charity.
Synonyms
voluntary,
free,
spontaneous,
unpaid,
complimentary,
gratis,
unrewarded,
buckshee (British, slang),
unasked-for
in the sense of studied
Definition
carefully practised or planned
a studied understatement
Synonyms
planned,
calculated,
deliberate,
conscious,
intentional,
wilful,
purposeful,
premeditated,
well-considered
in the sense of wilful
Definition
deliberate and intentional
Wilful neglect of the environment has caused this problem.