voluntary
[adjective]
Synonyms: unforced, discretionary, free, optional, spontaneous, willing

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Antonyms: involuntary
Contrasted words: coerced, compelled, forced, unintentional, unplanned, unwilling, unwitting
Related Words: chosen, elected, opted, volitional, autonomous, free, independent

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English Thesaurus: compulsory, obligatory, mandatory, optional, voluntary, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. vol‧un‧ta‧ry¹ W3 AC /ˈvɒləntəri $ ˈvɑːlənteri/ 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 Antonym : involuntary

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. voluntary² noun (plural voluntaries) [countable]
a piece of music played in church, usually by the organ

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

voluntary
adj.
VERBS be | remain
ADV. completely, entirely, purely The organization is run on a purely voluntary basis.
largely

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

voluntary

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.
on a voluntary basis
Guide and Scout leaders work on a voluntary basis.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

voluntary
noun
BAD: The hospital could not operate without voluntaries.
GOOD: The hospital could not operate without voluntary helpers.
BAD: In my opinion, these young voluntaries should be congratulated.
GOOD: In my opinion, these young volunteers should be congratulated.

Usage Note:
Voluntary is an adjective (NOT a noun). It describes someone who agrees to work without being paid, or work that is not paid: 'On Saturdays she does voluntary work at an old people's home.'
The noun is volunteer = someone who decides to do something when they are not forced to do it: 'I need three volunteers to help me move the piano.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

compulsory if something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law:
Maths and English are compulsory for all students.
Compulsory education was introduced in 1870.
Wearing a seatbelt is compulsory.
It is now compulsory for anyone claiming state benefit to register with a job centre.
obligatory [not usually before noun] if something is obligatory, you must do it because of a rule or law. Obligatory is more formal than compulsory:
It is now obligatory for all competitors to wear face protectors.
Evening dress is usual, but not obligatory.
Military service is obligatory for all men between 18 and 27.
mandatory if something is mandatory, you must do it because it is the law. Mandatory is more formal than compulsory and sounds stronger:
Drug smuggling carries a mandatory death sentence.
In some countries, wearing helmets is mandatory for all cyclists.
optional if something is optional, you can choose whether to do it or not:
You don’t have to do French – it’s optional.
The holiday price includes optional excursions such as an evening cruise on the lake.
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.
The charity is funded by voluntary donations.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲