Word
voluntary
Phoneticsvol·un·tary
US/ˈvɑɫəntɛɹi/
UK/vˈɒləntəɹi/
Definitions
01by choice
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. done or given because you want to do it, not because someone forces you.
adj. performed, given, or acting of one's own free will rather than under compulsion.
“Attendance at the after-school club is strictly voluntary for all students.”
“The company requested voluntary redundancies to avoid the need for compulsory layoffs during the restructuring process.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02unpaid work
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. working or done without receiving any money or payment.
adj. working or performed without payment, typically within a charitable or community context.
“She does voluntary work at the local animal shelter on weekends.”
“The charity relies heavily on voluntary contributions and the dedication of its unpaid staff to maintain its outreach programmes.”
Synonyms
03intentional
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. done on purpose or by design.
adj. relating to actions controlled by the will; intentional rather than accidental or automatic.
“Walking is a voluntary action, unlike the beating of your heart.”
“The patient regained voluntary control over his leg muscles after several months of intensive physical therapy.”
Usage
Often used in biology to describe muscle movements.
Teaching tip
In a medical or biological context, this is the opposite of a reflex.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04organ music
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Formal · Technical
n. a piece of music played on an organ, usually at the start or end of a church service.
n. an organ solo played before, during, or after a religious service, often involving improvisation.
“The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests left the church.”
“The service concluded with a spirited trumpet voluntary that resonated throughout the cathedral's vaulted nave.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “voluntary” in context.
Verb
01. remain voluntary
“The committee decided that membership should remain voluntary to encourage more people to join.”
verb + adj
Noun
02. voluntary organization
“The charity is a voluntary organization that relies entirely on donations from the public.”
adj + noun
03. voluntary redundancy
“Several senior managers chose to take voluntary redundancy when the company restructured.”
adj + noun
04. voluntary work
“She decided to do some voluntary work at the local animal shelter during her summer break.”
adj + noun
Adverb
05. entirely voluntary
“The contribution to the retirement fund is entirely voluntary, though most employees join.”
adv + adj
06. purely voluntary
“Participation in the after-school sports program is purely voluntary for all students.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Signing up with an agency for voluntary work at events has also got her into gigs and festivals for nothing.” “Photograph: AP Since then, Moscow has avoided another deeply unpopular call-up by relying largely on high paid voluntary contracts to fill the ranks with roughly 1.3 million contract soldiers Russia has recruited since.” Etymology
From Middle English voluntarie, from Old French volontaire, from Latin voluntārius (“willing, of free will”), from voluntās (“will, choice, desire”), from volēns, present participle of volo (“to will”). Displaced native Old English selfwille (literally “self-willed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/voluntary