/ ˈvɒləntri; NAmE ˈvɑːlənteri/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
done willingly, not because you are forced :
a voluntary agreement
Attendance on the course is purely voluntary.
to pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund
( BrE )
He took voluntary redundancy .
OPP compulsory
2.
[ usually before noun ] ( of work ) done by people who choose to do it without being paid :
I do some voluntary work at the local hospital.
She works there on a voluntary basis .
voluntary services / bodies / agencies / organizations (= organized, controlled or supported by people who choose to do this and are usually not paid)
the voluntary sector (= organizations which are set up to help people and which do not make a profit, for example charities)
3.
[ only before noun ] ( of a person ) doing a job without wanting to be paid for it :
a voluntary worker
4.
( technical ) ( of movements of the body ) that you can control
OPP involuntary
■ noun
( pl. -ies ) a piece of music played before, during or after a church service, usually on an organ
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French volontaire or Latin voluntarius , from voluntas will.