Origin: Latin suffix -ary
Voluntary has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
(military) a person who freely enlists for service
"When the army needed more troops, they held an event to recruit new voluntary soldiers."
composition (often improvised) for a solo instrument (especially solo organ) and not a regular part of a religious service or musical performance
"The church choir requested that the organist play a voluntary during the intermission to showcase his improvisational skills."
A short piece of music, often having improvisation, played on a solo instrument.
"The jazz pianist launched into an energetic voluntary that showcased his incredible improvisational skills."
"The charity relied on the voluntary to sort the donations."
of your own free will or design; done by choice; not forced or compelled
"man is a voluntary agent"
"participation was voluntary"
"voluntary manslaughter"
"voluntary generosity in times of disaster"
"voluntary social workers"
"a voluntary confession"
Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
"She decided to donate her old books to the library as a voluntary contribution."
In plain English: Voluntary means doing something on your own free will without being forced to do it.
"She decided to donate some of her money for a voluntary contribution to the charity."
Usage: Use voluntary to describe actions taken freely without external pressure or coercion. It is often contrasted with mandatory requirements where participation is required by law or rule.
Voluntarily.
"She decided to donate her time voluntarily to help organize the community cleanup."
In plain English: Voluntary means doing something on your own free will without being forced to do it.
"The committee voted to hold the meeting voluntarily."
The word voluntary entered Middle English from the Old French volontaire, which derived from the Latin voluntārius meaning "of free will." It replaced an earlier native English term, selfwille, to describe actions done by one's own choice.