voluntary

voluntary

I

vol‧un‧ta‧ry¹ W3 AC /ˈvɒləntəri $ ˈvɑːlənteri/ adjective1.
  a. voluntary organization/association/agency etc an organization etc that is organized or supported by people who give their money, services etc because they want to and who do not intend to make a profit ⇨ volunteer:
    a voluntary organization providing help for the elderly
    environmental work carried out by the voluntary sector
  b. voluntary work/service etc work etc that is done by people who do it because they want to, and who are not paid:
    She does a lot of voluntary work for the Red Cross.
    a drop-in centre for homeless people, run on a voluntary basis
2. done willingly and without being forced:
    Workers are being encouraged to take voluntary redundancy. ⇨ compulsory
3. technical voluntary movements of your body are controlled by your conscious mind
   OPP  involuntary
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ nouns
   ▪ a voluntary organization/group/body/agency The day care scheme was run by a voluntary organization.
   ▪ the voluntary sector (=voluntary work and the people involved in it) What is the role of the voluntary sector in sport?
   ▪ voluntary work/service He does voluntary work with young offenders.
■ phrases
   ▪ on a voluntary basis Guide and Scout leaders work on a voluntary basis.
     

THESAURUS

■ not compulsory
   ▪ optional if something is optional, you can choose whether to do it or not: You don’t have to do French – it’s optional. | The holiday price includes optional excursions such as an evening cruise on the lake. | General Studies is optional for sixth-form students.
   ▪ voluntary done because you want to do it and not because you have to – used especially about things that you do because you think they will help other people or be useful: The programme is entirely voluntary, and no one will be forced to join. | The charity is funded by voluntary donations.

II

voluntary² noun (plural voluntaries) [countable]
a piece of music played in church, usually by the organ