voluntary
voluntary
adjective
OPAL W
/ˈvɒləntri/
1 done willingly, not because you are forced
a voluntary agreement
Attendance on the course is purely voluntary.
to pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund
(British English) He took voluntary redundancy.
Attendance at classes is purely voluntary.
Local residents can sign up for the voluntary scheme.
Many people pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund.
OPPOSITE compulsory
Collocations
verbs
be
remain
adverb
completely
entirely
purely
2 usually before noun (of work) done by people who choose to do it without being paid
I do some voluntary work at the local hospital.
She works there on a voluntary basis.
voluntary services/bodies/agencies/organizations (= organized, controlled or supported by people who choose to do this and are usually not paid)
the voluntary sector (= organizations which are set up to help people and that do not make a profit, for example charities)
Much of the help is provided by the voluntary sector.
The day centre is operated by a voluntary organization.
TOPICS Jobs B2
Culture voluntary work
3 only before noun (of a person) doing a job without wanting to be paid for it
The homeless hostel is staffed by voluntary workers.
TOPICS Social issues B2
4 ​(specialist) (of movements of the body) that you can control
OPPOSITE involuntary
voluntary
noun
/ˈvɒləntri/
(plural voluntaries)
(music)
​a piece of music played before, during or after a church service, usually on an organ
TOPICS Music C2
Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French volontaire or Latin voluntarius, from voluntas ‘will’.