自発的な定義と意味 | Dictionary.com

VOLUNTARY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms voluntary American [ vol - uh n-ter-ee] / ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr i / adjective done, made, brought about, undertaken, etc., of one's own accord or by free choice. a voluntary contribution. Synonyms: designed , intended , planned , purposeful , considered of, relating to, or acting in accord with the will. voluntary cooperation. of, relating to, or depending on voluntary action. voluntary hospitals. Law. acting or done without compulsion or obligation. done by intention, and not by accident. voluntary manslaughter. made without valuable consideration. a voluntary settlement. Physiology. subject to or controlled by the will. having the power of willing or choosing. a voluntary agent. proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous . voluntary laughter. Synonyms: unconstrained , natural , unforced , free noun plural voluntaries something done voluntarily. 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. voluntary British / -trɪ, ˈvɒləntərɪ / adjective performed, undertaken, or brought about by free choice, willingly, or without being asked a voluntary donation (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 done by, composed of, or functioning with the aid of volunteers a voluntary association endowed with, exercising, or having the faculty of willing a voluntary agent arising from natural impulse; spontaneous voluntary laughter law acting or done without legal obligation, compulsion, or persuasion made without payment or recompense in any form a voluntary conveyance (of the muscles of the limbs, neck, etc) having their action controlled by the will maintained or provided by the voluntary actions or contributions of individuals and not by the state voluntary schools the voluntary system "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 noun music a composition or improvisation, usually for organ, played at the beginning or end of a church service work done without compulsion obsolete a volunteer, esp in an army "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Related Words See deliberate . 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. Other Word Forms nonvoluntary adjective semivoluntary adjective unvoluntary adjective voluntarily adverb voluntariness noun Etymology Origin of voluntary First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin voluntārius, equivalent to volunt(ās) “willingness, inclination” (ultimately representing a formation with -tās -ty 2 on the present participle of velle “to want, wish”; see will 1 , -ent ) + -ārius -ary Explanation Voluntary is an adjective that describes something you do because you want to, without being influenced or forced into it. Usually a voluntary act is something you consciously choose to do, like going into work even on a snow day. Voluntary comes from the Latin word voluntarius , which means "of one's free will." Voluntary can also describe a service given without any payment expected in return. For example, if your work for the community theater is voluntary, that means that you don't get paid for your time. If you're offering your voluntary help in this way, you might also be called a volunteer, someone who offers free help to assist others. Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing voluntary Prisoner B-3087 Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Life Science: Human Anatomy and Physiology Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! Word Generation Weekly - Series 3 Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. Britney Spears reportedly checked herself out of voluntary rehab this week. From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026 A lack of suitable premises is putting pressure on voluntary preschools to stay open, a nursery struggling to find a new home has said. From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026 The Big Four accounting firm has been grappling with slower demand for certain advisory services and lower voluntary attrition. From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026 Brazil, which was steering the climate negotiations, agreed to pursue a voluntary roadmap process instead and has asked willing countries to make submissions. From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026 ‘Mr. Hadden and Mr. Barton, you are witnesses of his repentance and voluntary return of my stolen property.’ From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes Related Words spontaneous Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.