Voluntary (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

adjective
  1. done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice: a voluntary contribution.
  2. of, relating to, or acting in accord with the will: voluntary cooperation.
  3. of, relating to, or depending on voluntary action: voluntary hospitals.
  4. Law.
    • acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
    • done by intention, and not by accident: voluntary manslaughter.
    • made without valuable consideration: a voluntary settlement.
  5. subject to or controlled by the will.
  6. having the power of willing or choosing: a voluntary agent.
  7. proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous: voluntary laughter.
noun, plural vol·un·tar·ies.
  1. something done voluntarily.
  2. 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.
adjective
  1. performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being asked
  2. (of persons) serving or acting in a specified function of one's own accord and without compulsion or promise of remuneration
  3. done by, composed of, or functioning with the aid of volunteers
  4. endowed with, exercising, or having the faculty of willing
  5. arising from natural impulse; spontaneous
  6. law
    • acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion
    • made without payment or recompense in any form
  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
noun plural -taries
  1. a composition or improvisation, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service
  2. work done without compulsion
  3. a volunteer, esp in an army
Voluntary (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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