voluntary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Done by choice, of one's own free will.

   Taking part in the survey is completely voluntary.

2. 2
   adj

   Done without payment.

   She does voluntary work at the local hospital.

3. 3
   adj

   Controlled by a person's own will, rather than happening automatically.

   Walking is a voluntary movement, but breathing is mostly automatic.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Voluntary ultimately comes from Latin voluntas, “will,” and entered English in the late Middle English period. The related word volunteer first appeared in the late 16th century as a military term.

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”).

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary