I. ˈvälən.ˌterē, -ri adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin voluntarius, from voluntas will, choice (from vol-, stem of velle to will, wish) + -arius -ary — more at will
1.
a. : proceeding from the will : produced in or by an act of choice
voluntary action
b. : performed, made, or given of one's own free will
a voluntary task
voluntary services
voluntary contributions
voluntary efforts
c. obsolete : ready , willing
d. : done by design or intention : not accidental : intentional , intended
voluntary manslaughter
e. : acting of oneself : not constrained, impelled, or influenced by another : spontaneous , free
voluntary worker
voluntary or forced labor
f. obsolete : growing spontaneously
g. : acting or done of one's own free will without valuable consideration : acting or done without any present legal obligation to do the thing done or any such obligation that can accrue from the existing state of affairs
2. : of or relating to the will : subject to or regulated by the will
voluntary behavior
voluntary control
voluntary motions
3. : able to will
man is a voluntary agent
4.
a. : provided or supported by voluntary action or support
the hospital is a voluntary one with 400 beds — Science
the importance of voluntary societies in a democracy
b. : of or relating to voluntarism
sell blanket insurance policies covering medical, dental, and hospital care to the public on a voluntary basis — Current Biography
Synonyms:
voluntary , intentional , deliberate , willful , and willing can agree in meaning done, made, brought about, and so on, of one's own free will. voluntary implies freedom from any compulsion that could constrain one's choice; often it suggests merely spontaneity, or, in contrast with involuntary, stresses the control of the will
a voluntary confession of guilt
a voluntary taking of life
voluntary muscle movements
intentional contrasts with accidental and inadvertent in specifying an intention and purpose
an intentional insult
any injury to bystanders at an auto race cannot be considered intentional
deliberate carries the idea of full knowledge or full consciousness of the nature of an intended action
a deliberate lie
deliberate acts of vandalism
an organized and deliberate attack — carefully planned and calculated — New York Times
willful adds to deliberate the idea of a refusal to be advised or directed in any way and an obstinate determination to act despite all wiser opposing forces or considerations
a willful disobedience
a gigantic glorification of vice and crime, a willful inversion of all normal ethical standards — Joseph Frank
willing implies such qualities as agreeableness or openmindedness that make one ready or eager to accede to others' wishes or effect an end pleasing to them
my most willing activity is listening to my secretary — O.W.Holmes †1935
no aspect of the world of science to which we cannot find willing and thrilling guidance — G.I.Schwartz
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from voluntary (I)
: voluntarily
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: voluntary (I)
1.
a. : a piece of music performed extempore and often improvised usually serving as a prelude to a set performance
b. : a usually pipe-organ solo played before, during, or after a religious service and sometimes extemporized
2. : something done, made, or given voluntarily : a voluntary action or piece of work : a voluntary contribution
3. : one who engages in an affair of his own free will : volunteer
4. : one who advocates voluntarism
5. : a fall of a horseback rider for which there is insufficient cause