English · Family & People
volunteer
/ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/
[/ˌvɒl.ənˈtɪər/]
helper, unpaid worker
Intermediatenoun
Definition
A volunteer is a person who freely offers to do something, often helping others without being paid.
Example
Dozens of volunteers spent their weekend planting trees and cleaning rubbish from the riverbank.
Dozens of volunteers spent their weekend planting trees and cleaning rubbish from the riverbank.
Etymology
From French 'volontaire', from Latin 'voluntarius' (willing), from 'voluntas' (will).
How & Where It’s Used
Used for unpaid community helpers and, as a verb, to offer oneself for a task.