I. vol ‧ un ‧ ta ‧ ry 1 W3 AC /ˈvɒlənt ə ri $ ˈvɑːlənteri/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ volunteer ; noun : ↑ volunteer ; adverb : ↑ voluntarily ≠ ↑ involuntarily ; adjective : ↑ voluntary ≠ ↑ involuntary ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: voluntarius , from voluntas 'will' , from velle 'to will, wish' ]
1 .
a) voluntary organization/association/agency etc an organization etc that is organized or supported by people who give their money, services etc because they want to and who do not intend to make a profit ⇨ volunteer :
a voluntary organization providing help for the elderly
environmental work carried out by the voluntary sector
b) voluntary work/service etc work etc that is done by people who do it because they want to, and who are not paid:
She does a lot of voluntary work for the Red Cross.
a drop-in centre for homeless people, run on a voluntary basis
2 . done willingly and without being forced:
Workers are being encouraged to take voluntary redundancy.
⇨ ↑ compulsory
3 . technical voluntary movements of your body are controlled by your conscious mind OPP involuntary
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ a voluntary organization/group/body/agency
The day care scheme was run by a voluntary organization.
▪ the voluntary sector (=voluntary work and the people involved in it)
What is the role of the voluntary sector in sport?
▪ voluntary work/service
He does voluntary work with young offenders.
■ phrases
▪ on a voluntary basis
Guide and Scout leaders work on a voluntary basis.
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THESAURUS
■ not compulsory
▪ optional if something is optional, you can choose whether to do it or not:
You don’t have to do French – it’s optional.
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The holiday price includes optional excursions such as an evening cruise on the lake.
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General Studies is optional for sixth-form students.
▪ voluntary done because you want to do it and not because you have to – used especially about things that you do because you think they will help other people or be useful:
The programme is entirely voluntary, and no one will be forced to join.
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The charity is funded by voluntary donations.
II. voluntary 2 BrE AmE noun ( plural voluntaries ) [countable]
a piece of music played in church, usually by the ↑ organ