voluntary

[vol-uh n-ter-ee] /ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr i/
adjective
1.
done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice:
a voluntary contribution.
2.
of, pertaining to, or acting in accord with the will:
voluntary cooperation.
3.
of, pertaining to, or depending on voluntary action:
voluntary hospitals.
4.
Law.
  1. acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
  2. done by intention, and not by accident:
    voluntary manslaughter.
  3. made without valuable consideration:
    a voluntary settlement.
5.
Physiology. 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 voluntaries.
8.
something done voluntarily.
9.
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.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin voluntārius, equivalent to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ultimately representing a formation with -tās -ty2 on the present participle of velle to want, wish; see will1, -ent) + -ārius -ary
Related forms
voluntarily
[vol-uh n-tair-uh-lee, vol-uh n-ter-] /ˌvɒl ənˈtɛər ə li, ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr-/ (Show IPA), adverb
voluntariness, noun
nonvoluntary, adjective
semivoluntary, adjective
unvoluntarily, adverb
unvoluntary, adjective
Synonyms
1. considered, purposeful, planned, intended, designed. See deliberate. 7. free, unforced, natural, unconstrained. Voluntary, spontaneous agree in applying to something that is a natural outgrowth or natural expression arising from circumstances and conditions. Voluntary implies having given previous consideration, or having exercised judgment: a voluntary confession; a voluntary movement; The offer was a voluntary one. Something that is spontaneous arises as if by itself from the nature of the circumstances or condition: spontaneous applause, combustion, expression of admiration.
Examples from the web for voluntary
  • The voluntary accreditation program is another step in the increasing professionalization of those agencies, experts.
  • These agreements encourage landowners to take voluntary steps towards restoring and maintaining the habitat of rare species.
  • It originally stated that the mice had regained voluntary movement.
  • Their actions seemed to involved less voluntary control than the control group's.
  • Many of the cuts came from voluntary reductions in pay and benefits as the economy whittled away at campus budgets.
  • At a pragmatic level, you can't run government functions on voluntary donations because voluntary donations aren't sustainable.
  • Participation in the project is of course purely voluntary.
  • Prior to voluntary behavior lies a conscious intention.
  • It's that odd bit of hand-holding that is totally voluntary.
  • The voluntary program is another step in the increasing professionalization of those agencies, experts say.
British Dictionary definitions for voluntary

voluntary

/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)
  1. acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion
  2. 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
noun (pl) -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, adverb
voluntariness, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Latin voluntārius, from voluntās will, from velle to wish
Word Origin and History for voluntary
adj.

late 14c. (implied in voluntarily), from Latin voluntarius "of one's free will," from voluntas "will," from the ancient accusative singular present participle of velle "to wish" (see will (v.)). Originally of feelings, later also of actions (mid-15c.).

voluntary in Medicine

voluntary vol·un·tar·y (vŏl'ən-těr'ē)
adj.

  1. Arising from or acting on one's own free will.

  2. Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition, as of respiration.

  3. Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will.