voluntary — done, given, or acting of one's own free will
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: done, given, or acting of one's own free will
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈvɑːlənteri/
Example Sentences
- My mom's voluntary diet lasted exactly 3 hours until she saw chocolate cake.
- The company offers voluntary overtime, which is like saying 'please work more for free'.
- Students can participate in voluntary activities to improve their college applications.
voluntary
ADJECTIVE[/ˈvɑːlənteri/]
done, given, or acting of one's own free will

The students did voluntary work by cleaning the neighborhood park.

The voluntary helpers painted the community center simply because they wanted to help. (VOLUNTEER → VOLUNTARY → doing something because you want to)

Her voluntary service earned an honorary award and led to a celebratory gathering.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'voluntarius' meaning 'of one's own will,' derived from 'voluntas' (will, desire). The word entered English through Old French and has been used since the 14th century to describe actions performed by choice rather than compulsion.
Breakdown
volunt- (from Latin voluntas, meaning will/desire) + -ary (suffix forming adjectives meaning 'relating to' or 'characterized by') = voluntary (relating to or done by one's own will)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom's voluntary diet lasted exactly 3 hours until she saw chocolate cake.”
“The company offers voluntary overtime, which is like saying 'please work more for free'.”
“Students can participate in voluntary activities to improve their college applications.”
“The witness gave voluntary testimony without being subpoenaed.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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