B2 noun Formal

voluntary

/ˈvɒl.ən.tri/

A piece of music, typically played on an organ, that is performed at the beginning or end of a religious service. It can also refer to an action performed of one's own free will, though this usage is more common in legal or specialized contexts.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.

The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.

2

The liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.

The liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.

3

I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.

I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.

Word Family

Noun
voluntary
Verb
volunteer
Adverb
voluntarily
Adjective
voluntary
Related
voluntariness
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Memory Tip

Associate 'Voluntary' with 'Volume' (of music) and 'Volition' (your own will to play it).

Quick Quiz

The congregation remained seated to listen to the final organ _______.

Correct!

The correct answer is: voluntary

Examples

1

The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.

everyday

The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.

2

The liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.

formal

The liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.

3

I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.

informal

I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.

4

The development of the English organ voluntary reached its peak during the late Georgian era.

academic

The development of the English organ voluntary reached its peak during the late Georgian era.

5

Under the terms of the trust, the payment was considered a voluntary rather than a mandatory distribution.

business

Under the terms of the trust, the payment was considered a voluntary rather than a mandatory distribution.

Word Family

Noun
voluntary
Verb
volunteer
Adverb
voluntarily
Adjective
voluntary
Related
voluntariness

Common Collocations

organ voluntary organ voluntary
concluding voluntary concluding voluntary
opening voluntary opening voluntary
Trumpet Voluntary Trumpet Voluntary
perform a voluntary perform a voluntary

Common Phrases

organ voluntary

a piece of music for the organ

Trumpet Voluntary

a popular genre of organ music featuring trumpet stops

of one's own voluntary

done by one's own choice (archaic/formal)

Often Confused With

voluntary vs volunteer

A volunteer is a person who performs a service for free; a voluntary is the piece of music or the act itself.

📝

Usage Notes

As a noun, 'voluntary' is mostly restricted to the context of church music. In general English, it is far more common to see 'voluntary' used as an adjective.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often say 'I am a voluntary' when they mean 'I am a volunteer.' Use 'voluntary' as a noun only for music or specific legal actions.

💡

Memory Tip

Associate 'Voluntary' with 'Volume' (of music) and 'Volition' (your own will to play it).

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'voluntarius', meaning 'of one's own free will', derived from 'voluntas' (will/wish).

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: voluntaries often modified by 'organ' or 'choral'
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Cultural Context

The 'organ voluntary' is a staple of Western Christian liturgical tradition, particularly in the Anglican Church.

Quick Quiz

The congregation remained seated to listen to the final organ _______.

Correct!

The correct answer is: voluntary

Related Grammar Rules

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