volition
vuh-LISH-un
/vəˈlɪʃ.ən/
The faculty or power of using one's will; the act of making a conscious choice or decision.
Emphasizes deliberate personal choice free from external coercion or obligation.
The story behind the word. Derived from Medieval Latin 'volitio', stemming from classical Latin 'velle' (to wish or want). It gained legal and philosophical prominence as scholars debated whether human acts were born of free will or divine decree.
Word relationships
- willpower: Willpower focuses on self-discipline and resistance to temptation, whereas volition focuses on choice.
- choice: Choice refers to the selected option, while volition refers to the power of selecting.
- coercion: Coercion involves forcing someone to act against their will.
- compulsion: Compulsion is an irresistible urge to act against rational choice.
Commonly confused with
- volatility: Volatility means liability to change rapidly and unpredictably, completely unrelated to free will.
Word family
- volitional (adjective): Relating to or done by conscious choice.
Collocations
- of one's own volition
- exercise of volition
- act of volition
Idioms & expressions
- of one's own free will
Example sentences
- "The suspect walked into the police station of his own volition to clear his name." Legal testimony
- "True moral responsibility requires that an individual act out of free volition." Philosophical writing
Memory hook
VOLITION = VOLUNTEER of your own WILL. Free choice.
When not to use
Do not use when actions are forced, involuntary, or purely instinctual.
Fun facts
- In neuroscience, the 'readiness potential' in the brain occurs split seconds before a person feels a conscious act of volition.
Related words
Explore more words
autonomy, impulsive, authenticity, make a decision, freedom, deliberate
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