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Volunteer

vol-un-TEER /ˌvɒlənˈtɪər/

nounverbB1TOEFLIELTS

general

A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task; to offer one's services for a task or purpose without payment.

Volunteer emphasizes the free will and unpaid nature of the service. It can apply to any type of work, skilled or unskilled, and is a fundamental component of many charitable efforts.

The story behind the word. The word 'volunteer' comes from the Old French 'voluntaire,' which itself derived from the Latin 'voluntarius,' meaning 'of one's free will.' It originally referred to someone who offered their services, particularly in military contexts, without being conscripted. By the 17th century, it had broadened to include anyone offering their services freely for any purpose.

Word relationships

Helper: More general, doesn't imply unpaid or free will.
Assistant: Often implies a paid role or a subordinate position.

Employee: A person employed for wages or salary.
Compulsory: Required by law or a rule; obligatory.

Commonly confused with

Pro bono: Volunteer is a broad term for unpaid work; pro bono specifically refers to professional services offered for free.

Word family

voluntary (adjective): Done, given, or acting of one's own free will.
voluntarily (adverb): Of one's own free will; without being forced or paid.

Collocations

community volunteer
volunteer work
volunteer for a cause
volunteer organization
sign up to volunteer

Example sentences

"Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help clean the park after the storm." Describing participation in a community event.
"She decided to volunteer her time at the animal shelter every Saturday morning." Offering assistance.

Memory hook

A 'VOLUNTEER' acts with 'VOLUNTARY' (free) will. Free will service

When not to use

While 'pro bono' is a type of volunteering, 'volunteer' is a broader term. Don't use 'volunteer' when you specifically mean professional services offered for free (use 'pro bono').

Fun facts

The concept of volunteering is ancient, with communities always relying on mutual aid, but the formal term gained prominence with organized charitable efforts.
Many countries have national days or weeks dedicated to recognizing and promoting volunteering.

Related words

Charity, Fundraising, Pro bono

Explore more words

volunteerism, altruism, enterprise, philanthropist, docent, venture