voluntary

vol·un·tar·y  (vln-tr)

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.

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 deliberately; intentional: 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.

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[Middle English, from Latin voluntrius, from volunts, choice, from velle, vol-, to wish; see wel-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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volun·tari·ly (-târ-l) adv.

volun·tari·ness n.

Synonyms: voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willful, willing
These adjectives mean being or resulting from one's own free will. Voluntary implies the operation of unforced choice: "Ignorance, when it is voluntary, is criminal" Samuel Johnson.
Intentional applies to something undertaken to further a plan or realize an aim: "I will abstain from all intentional wrongdoing and harm" Hippocratic Oath.
Deliberate stresses premeditation and full awareness of the character and consequences of one's acts: taking deliberate and decisive action.
Willful implies deliberate, headstrong persistence in a self-determined course of action: a willful waste of time.
Willing suggests ready or cheerful acquiescence in the proposals or requirements of another: "The first requisite of a good citizen ... is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight" Theodore Roosevelt.

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voluntary

Adjective

1. done or undertaken by free choice: voluntary repatriation

2. done or maintained without payment: voluntary work

3. (of muscles) having their action controlled by the will

Noun

pl -taries

Music a composition, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service [Latin voluntarius]

voluntarily adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	voluntary - (military) a person who freely enlists for service military volunteer, volunteer armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker" military man, serviceman, man, military personnel - someone who serves in the armed forces; a member of a military force; "two men stood sentry duty"
	2.	voluntary - composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance solo - a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment) postlude - a voluntary played at the end of a religious service
Adj.	1.	voluntary - 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" conscious - knowing and perceiving; having awareness of surroundings and sensations and thoughts; "remained conscious during the operation"; "conscious of his faults"; "became conscious that he was being followed" intended - resulting from one's intentions; "your intended trip abroad"; "an intended insult" willing - disposed or inclined toward; "a willing participant"; "willing helpers" involuntary, nonvoluntary, unvoluntary - not subject to the control of the will; "involuntary manslaughter"; "involuntary servitude"; "an involuntary shudder"; "It (becoming a hero) was involuntary. They sank my boat"- John F.Kennedy
	2.	voluntary - controlled by individual volition; "voluntary motions"; "voluntary muscles" physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms involuntary - controlled by the autonomic nervous system; without conscious control; "involuntary muscles"; "gave an involuntary start"

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voluntary

adjective 1. intentional, intended, deliberate, planned, studied, purposed, calculated, wilful, done on purpose << OPPOSITE unintentional

adjective 2. optional, discretionary, up to the individual, open, unforced, unconstrained, unenforced, at your discretion, discretional, open to choice, uncompelled << OPPOSITE obligatory

3. unpaid, volunteer, free, willing, honorary, gratuitous, pro bono Law

Translations

voluntary [ˈvɔləntərɪ] adj → voluntario, espontáneo

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voluntary [ˈvɔləntərɪ] adj → volontaire (= unpaid); bénévole

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voluntary [ˈvɔləntərɪ] adj → freiwillig

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voluntary [ˈvɔləntərɪ] adj → volontario/a (= unpaid); gratuito/a, non retribuito/a