- voluntary
- vol•un•tar•y[[t]ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr i[/t]] adj. n. pl. -tar•ies1) done, made, brought about, or undertaken of one's own accord or by free choice:a voluntary contribution[/ex]2) of, pertaining to, or acting in accord with the will3) of, pertaining to, or depending on voluntary action:voluntary hospitals[/ex]4) done by or composed of volunteers5) law Law.a) acting or done without compulsion or obligationb) done by intention, and not by accident:voluntary manslaughter[/ex]c) made without valuable consideration:a voluntary settlement[/ex]6) phl subject to or controlled by the will7) having the power of willing or choosing:a voluntary agent[/ex]8) proceeding from a natural impulse; spontaneous9) someone or something voluntary10) mad a piece of music performed as a prelude to a larger work, esp. an organ piece performed before, during, or after a church service•Etymology: 1350–1400; < L voluntārius, der. of volunt(ās) willingness, inclination, der. of velle to want, wish; see will I, -ent) vol•un•tar•i•ly ˌvɒl ənˈtɛər ə li, ˈvɒl ənˌtɛr- adv. vol′un•tar`i•ness, n. syn: See deliberate
From formal English to slang. 2014.