{
    "term": "voluntary",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "academic": true,
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "done willingly, not because you are forced",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a voluntary agreement"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Attendance on the course is purely voluntary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to pay **voluntary contributions** into a pension fund"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He took **voluntary redundancy**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Attendance at classes is purely voluntary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Local residents can sign up for the voluntary scheme."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many people pay voluntary contributions into a pension fund."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "remain"],
                "adverb": ["completely", "entirely", "purely"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "done by people who choose to do it without being paid",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I do some **voluntary work** at the local hospital."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She works there on a **voluntary basis**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**voluntary services/bodies/agencies/organizations** *(= organized, controlled or supported by people who choose to do this and are usually not paid)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**the voluntary sector** *(= organizations which are set up to help people and that do not make a profit, for example charities)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Much of the help is provided by the voluntary sector."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The day centre is operated by a voluntary organization."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Jobs"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "doing a job without wanting to be paid for it",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The homeless hostel is staffed by voluntary workers."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Social issues"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "that you can control",
            "labels": "(specialist)",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈvɒləntri/",
                "audio": "vo/voluntary/voluntary__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈvɑːlənteri/",
                "audio": "vo/voluntary/voluntary__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: from Old French volontaire or Latin voluntarius, from voluntas ‘will’."
}