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Definition of "volunteer" []

  • A person who performs or offers to perform a service voluntarily: an information booth staffed by volunteers; hospital volunteers. (noun)
  • Law A person who renders aid, performs a service, or assumes an obligation voluntarily. (noun)
  • Law A person who holds property under a deed made without consideration. (noun)
  • Botany A cultivated plant growing from self-sown or accidentally dropped seed. (noun)
  • Being, consisting of, or done by volunteers: volunteer firefighters; volunteer tutoring. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "volunteer" in a sentence
  • "Part of the difficulties seem to stem from the fact that as an army sponsored organization, there are a lot of rules that an FRG needs to adhere to, and frankly, there is no way to hold volunteers accountable, and most will balk at the rediculous restrictions. ok, so I have to fill out how many dozen forms to _volunteer_ my time, including several on a continuing basis every time I do some volunteer work?"
  • "We advise against using the term "volunteer," and some people like the term "pro bono" especially in the legal field, where it is common."
  • "The term "volunteer" is used loosely; following in the grand tradition of mildly pervy prestidigitators, Wuthergloom/Woolfe has a tendency to select the most attractive, young women in attendance to participate."