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165 results for: Voluntary

Dictionary Entries (11 more entries. View all »)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Cite This Source
vol·un·tar·y    Audio Help   [vol-uhn-ter-ee] Pronunciation Key adjective, noun, plural -tar·ies.
–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.
a.acting or done without compulsion or obligation.
b.done by intention, and not by accident: voluntary manslaughter.
c.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
8.something done voluntarily.
9.a piece of music, frequently spontaneous and improvised, performed as a prelude to a larger work, esp. a piece of organ music performed before, during, or after an office of the church.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L voluntārius, equiv. to volunt(ās) willingness, inclination (ult. repr. a formation with -tās -ty2 on the prp. of velle to want, wish; see will1, -ent) + -ārius -ary]

—Related forms
vol·un·tar·i·ly    Audio Help   [vol-uhn-tair-uh-lee, vol-uhn-ter-] Pronunciation Key, adverb
vol·un·tar·i·ness, noun

—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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Thesaurus Entries (3 more entries. View all »)
  Roget's II: The New ThesaurusCite This Source
Main Entry:  voluntary
Part of Speech:  adjective
Definition:  Of or relating to free exercise of the will.
Synonyms:  volitional, willing
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  Roget's II: The New ThesaurusCite This Source
Main Entry:  voluntary
Part of Speech:  adjective
Definition:  Done by one's own choice.
Synonyms:  free, spontaneous, uncompelled, unforced, volitional, willful
Source:  Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition
by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary.
Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
  Synonym Collection v1.1Cite This Source
Main Entry:  voluntary
Part of Speech:  adjective
Synonyms:  chosen, deliberate, elected, elective, free, freely, intentional, optional, spontaneous, unasked, unbidden, unforced, unpaid, volunteer, willful, willing, willingly
Source:  Synonym Collection v1.1
Copyright © 2008 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC.

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