Volunteer has 9 different meanings across 3 categories:
(military) a person who freely enlists for service
"After the war broke out, many young men volunteered to join the army before a draft was even considered."
a person who performs voluntary work
"The local shelter is always looking for volunteers to help sort donations on weekends."
a native or resident of Tennessee
"The volunteer soldiers who marched from Tennessee hoped to defend their home state during the Civil War."
One who enters into, or offers for, any service of their own free will, especially when done without pay.
"After school, she decided to volunteer at the local animal shelter to help care for the stray dogs."
In plain English: A volunteer is someone who chooses to help others without getting paid for it.
"She decided to volunteer at the local food bank every weekend."
do volunteer work
"She decided to volunteer at the local animal shelter every weekend to help care for the stray dogs."
To enlist oneself as a volunteer.
"She decided to volunteer for the community clean-up project after hearing about the shortage of helpers."
In plain English: To volunteer means to freely offer to do something without being asked or paid.
"She volunteered to help her neighbor move house on Saturday."
Usage: Use this verb when someone freely offers their time or services without being asked, rather than using it to describe mandatory service. It often pairs with prepositions like "to help," "for the cause," or directly followed by an activity such as "volunteer at the shelter."
The word entered English from the Middle French voluntaire, which derived from the Latin voluntārius meaning "willing" or "voluntary." It originally described someone who acted out of their own free will rather than by command.