voluntary
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 5The 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.
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.
I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.
I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.
Antonyms
Word Family
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
The organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.
everydayThe organist played a beautiful voluntary as the wedding guests exited the church.
The liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.
formalThe liturgy concluded with a solemn organ voluntary composed in the seventeenth century.
I really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.
informalI really liked that short voluntary they played before the service started.
The development of the English organ voluntary reached its peak during the late Georgian era.
academicThe development of the English organ voluntary reached its peak during the late Georgian era.
Under the terms of the trust, the payment was considered a voluntary rather than a mandatory distribution.
businessUnder the terms of the trust, the payment was considered a voluntary rather than a mandatory distribution.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
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
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
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
Related Vocabulary
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