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Voluntary: meaning, definitions and examples

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voluntary

 

[ ˈvɒləntəri ]

Adjective / Noun
Adjectives
Context #1 | Adjective

work

done, made, brought, etc., by choice rather than by force or because you are paid to do it

Synonyms

charitable, uncompensated, unpaid

Examples of usage

  • He does some voluntary work for a local charity.
  • Voluntary contributions are welcome.
  • She is a voluntary worker at the hospital.
Context #2 | Noun

military

a person who joins the military, a sports organization, etc., because they want to, not because they are forced to

Synonyms

enlistee, member, recruit

Examples of usage

  • He joined the army as a voluntary.
  • The team is looking for new voluntaries to join.

Translations

Translations of the word "voluntary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 voluntário

🇮🇳 स्वैच्छिक (Svaichhik)

🇩🇪 freiwillig

🇮🇩 sukarela

🇺🇦 добровільний

🇵🇱 dobrowolny

🇯🇵 自発的な (Jihatsuteki na)

🇫🇷 volontaire

🇪🇸 voluntario

🇹🇷 gönüllü

🇰🇷 자발적인 (Jabanjeog-in)

🇸🇦 طوعي (Taw'i)

🇨🇿 dobrovolný

🇸🇰 dobrovoľný

🇨🇳 自愿的 (Zìyuàn de)

🇸🇮 prostovoljen

🇮🇸 sjálfviljugur

🇰🇿 ерікті

🇬🇪 ნებაყოფლობითი (nebaqopilobiti)

🇦🇿 könüllü

🇲🇽 voluntario

Word origin

The word 'voluntary' originated in the late 14th century from the Latin word 'voluntarius', meaning 'of one's free will'. It has been used over the centuries to describe actions or choices made willingly, without compulsion. The concept of voluntary work became popular in the 19th and 20th centuries as a way for individuals to contribute to their communities without financial gain. Today, the term 'voluntary' is widely used in various contexts to emphasize the voluntary nature of an action or decision.

See also: involuntarily, volunteers.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,951, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.