voluntary

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Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈvɒ.lən.tɹi/
• (GA) IPA: /ˈvɑ.lənˌtɛ.ɹi/

Adjective

voluntary

1. Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.

   • That sin or guilt pertains exclusively to voluntary action is the true principle of orthodoxy.

2. Done by design or intention; intentional.

   If a man accidentally kills another by lopping a tree, it is not voluntary manslaughter.

3. Working or done without payment.
4. Endowed with the power of willing.
5. Of or relating to voluntarism.

   a voluntary church, in distinction from an established or state church

Synonyms

• (acting of one's own free will) discretionary, optional, volitional; See also Thesaurus:optional
• (done by design or intention) intentional, willful
• (done without payment) honorary, pro bono, unpaid, unsalaried, unwaged
• (endowed with the power of willing) autonomous, spontaneous

Antonyms

• (all) involuntary
• (acting of one's own free will) compulsory, obligatory; See also Thesaurus:compulsory
• (done by design or intention) accidental
• (done without payment) paid, salaried

Related terms

• voluntarism
• voluntarist

Translations

• French: volontaire
• German: freiwillig
• Italian: spontaneo, volontario, di propria iniziativa
• Portuguese: voluntário
• Russian: доброво́льный
• Spanish: voluntario

Translations

• Italian: intenzionale, deliberato, voluto
• Portuguese: voluntário

Translations

• French: bénévole
• German: ohne Bezahlung (without payment), ehrenamtlich (honorary)
• Italian: volontario, gratuito
• Portuguese: voluntário

Translations

• Italian: volenteroso
• Portuguese: voluntário

Adverb

voluntary

1. (obsolete) Voluntarily.
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, III.4:

     And all that els was pretious and deare, / The sea unto him voluntary brings [...].

Noun

voluntary (plural voluntaries)

1. (music) A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.
2. A volunteer.
3. A supporter of voluntarism; a voluntarist.

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