volition

noun

vo·li·tion | \ vō-ˈli-shən

, və-\

Definition of volition

1 : the power of choosing or determining : will

2 : an act of making a choice or decision also : a choice or decision made

Other Words from volition Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about volition

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Did You Know?

Volition ultimately derives from the Latin verb velle, meaning "to will" or "to wish." (The adjective "voluntary" descends from the same source.) English speakers borrowed the term from French in the 17th century, using it at first to mean "an act of choosing." Its earliest known English use appeared in Thomas Jackson's 1615 Commentaries upon the Apostle's Creed: "That such acts, again, as they appropriate to the will, and call volitions, are essentially and formally intellections, is most evident." The second sense of volition, meaning "the power to choose," had developed by the mid-18th century.

Examples of volition in a Sentence

Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder marked by recurrent tics and vocalizations that are beyond the sufferer's volition or control. left the church of her own volition, not because she was excommunicated

Recent Examples on the Web

Hannah's been put in this crummy situation, not of her own volition but by a bachelor lying to her. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Hannah Brown and Her 'Bachelorette' Winner Have Reportedly Broken Up," 2 July 2019 For a handful of years the stance in Storrs seemed to be that the proud basketball programs would thrive through the power of their own volition and rich history while the university pursued a the Power 5 pipe dream. — Mike Anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: UConn’s move back to the Big East strengthens a brand that is about national championship caliber basketball," 23 June 2019 Juana herself had never shown any particular inclinations towards governance, but nonetheless there are strong suggestions that the decision to leave the ruling of Castile to Ferdinand was not entirely of Juana's own volition. — Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "What Was Catherine of Aragon's Sister, Juana la Loca, Really Like?," 10 June 2019 Some departed on their own volition; others, for one reason or another, were unceremoniously forced out. — Rey Mashayekhi, Fortune, "Here Are All the 'Best People' That Have Quit Trump's Economic Team," 7 June 2019 For the sake of your eyes, don’t hesitate to bring this up of your own volition. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Why Do My Contacts Keep Popping Out of My Eyes?," 29 Aug. 2018 The point may be true, but while the Commission is concerned with the end of bundling, any further move to restrict phone makers' or carriers' ability to include the apps of their own volition would be entirely Google's decision. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "What's Behind Google's Enormous $5 Billion Fine from the EU," 18 July 2018 But prosecutors argued that Constand did not have any outstanding litigation against Cosby and is in court on her own volition. — Eric Levenson, CNN, "Bill Cosby's trial pushes to its finale after a newsworthy two weeks," 22 Apr. 2018 That is the compatibilist position from whence volition and culpability emerge. — Michael Shermer, Scientific American, "Will Science Ever Solve the Mysteries of Consciousness, Free Will and God?," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'volition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.